YOUR O.A.T. ADVENTURE TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE®

Grand Baltic Sea Voyage 2021

Small Groups: 20-25 travelers—guaranteed! (average of 22)

Overseas Adventure Travel ® The Leader in Personalized Small Group Adventures on the Road Less Traveled 1 Dear Traveler,

At last, the world is opening up again for curious travel lovers like you and me. And the O.A.T. Grand Baltic Sea Voyage itinerary you’ve expressed interest in will be a wonderful way to resume the discoveries that bring us so much joy. You might soon be enjoying standout moments like these:

As I explored Gdansk’s Stare Miasto (Old Town), I could feel the traces of its maritime origins ebb and flow with each step I took. I couldn’t help but marvel at the bright medieval architecture as well as the city’s resilience following the destruction wrought by World War II. While the war time scars can be seen throughout the Old Town, the determination of the Polish people resonates far louder than their turbulent past. I was so moved by the stories of the local people who live here now.

You’ll meet them, too, and hear their personal experiences when you visit the European Solidarity Center. Here, you’ll delve into Poland’s tumultuous history and their dismantling of a communist regime alongside a local guide. Along the way, you’ll discover how Lech Walesa headed the movement as a labor activist and how he is viewed by the Polish population today. You can take this opportunity to truly hear firsthand the effects of this time period from a local, and how Solidarity became the largest independent trade union in Poland.

The way we see it, you’ve come a long way to experience the true culture—not some fairytale version of it. So we keep our groups small, with only 20-25 travelers (average 22) to ensure that your encounters with local people are as intimate and authentic as possible. It’s also why your O.A.T. Trip Experience Leader will be a resident “insider” who can show you the culture as only a local can.

To ensure that your adventure is truly unique, put your own personal stamp on it. You can arrive early and stay later, add a pre- or post-trip extension, spend time in a Stopover city, or combine two or more trips. Plus, your itinerary offers ample free time so you can pursue your own interests.

So until the day comes when you are off to enjoy your Grand Baltic Sea Voyage adventure, I hope you will relish the fun and anticipation that this O.A.T. Adventure Travel Planning Guide® will inspire. Should you have further questions, feel free to call our Regional Adventure Counselors at 1-800-955-1925.

Love and peace,

Harriet R. Lewis Vice Chairman, Overseas Adventure Travel

P.S. For more inspiration, you can watch videos and slideshows from travelers like you at www.oattravel. com/traveler-moments. You can also share some of your own favorite moments by uploading your travel videos and slideshows directly onto the trip-specific pages of our website.

USA Today “Best Tours” 10Best Readers’ Presented by Choice Awards Solo Traveler

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CONTENTS

A Letter from Harriet Lewis ...... 2 The O.A.T. Difference...... 4 The Grand Circle Foundation...... 6 The Leader in Solo Travel ...... 7

GRAND BALTIC SEA VOYAGE ABOUT YOUR DESTINATIONS: CULTURE, ETIQUETTE & MORE Your Adventure at a Glance: Copenhagen in Brief ...... Where You’re Going, What it Costs, 83 and What’s Included ...... 8 Riga in Brief ...... 85 Your Detailed Day-To-Day Itinerary ...... 9 Helsinki in Brief ...... 87 Optional Tours ...... 32 Stockholm in Brief ...... 88 Tallinn in Brief...... 86 Pre-Trip Extension ...... 33 St. Petersburg in Brief ...... 86 Post-Trip Extension ...... 38 Shopping: What to Buy, Customs, Deck Plans ...... 43 Shipping & More ...... 90 Dates & Prices ...... 47 DEMOGRAPHICS & HISTORY Denmark ...... 93 ESSENTIAL TRAVEL INFORMATION Facts, Figures & National Holidays ...... 93 Travel Documents & Entry Requirements. . . 48 Historical Overview of Denmark ...... 94 Visas May Be Required ...... 48 Poland ...... 95 Rigors, Vaccines & General Health ...... 50 Facts, Figures & National Holidays ...... 95 Vaccines Required ...... 51 Poland: A Brief History ...... 96 Money Matters: Local Currency & Estonia ...... 97 Tipping Guidelines...... 53 Facts, Figures & National Holidays ...... 97 Tipping Guidelines...... 56 Estonia: A Brief History ...... 98 Air, Optional Tours & Staying in Touch ..... 58 Latvia ...... 99 Optional Tours ...... 59 Facts, Figures & National Holidays ...... 99 Communicating with Home from Abroad . . 60 Latvia: A Brief History ...... 100 Packing: What to Bring & Luggage Limits . . . 61 Russia ...... 101 Suggested Packing Lists ...... 63 Facts, Figures & National Holidays ...... 101 Electricity Abroad ...... 65 Russia: A Brief History ...... 102 Climate & Average Temperatures ...... 68 Finland ...... 103 Aboard Your Ship: Cabin Features, Facts, Figures & National Holidays ...... 103 Dining & Services on Board ...... 72 Historical Overview of Finland ...... 104 M/V Corinthian & M/V Clio...... 72 Sweden...... 105 Ship Specifications ...... 75 Facts, Figures & National Holidays ...... 105 Historical Overview of Sweden ...... 106 RESOURCES Suggested Reading ...... 107 Suggested Film & Video ...... 111

O.A.T. Health & Safety Measures...... 115 Notes...... 116 Map ...... 119 3 EXPERIENCE THE O.A.T. DIFFERENCE in Scandinavia & the Baltics

This adventure not only showcases iconic sights, but takes you beyond them to experience the culture through unique activities, engagement with the natural world, and authentic encounters with local people. Since our founding in 1978, O.A.T. has become America’s leader in personalized small group journeys on the road less traveled.

SMALL GROUPS: 20-25 TRAVELERS LOCAL MODES OF TRANSPORTATION (AVERAGE OF 22)—GUARANTEED To see the world like the locals, you should The world feels more intimate and engaging travel like one. Our small group size allows when your experience of it is also personal us to take the roads and waterways that are and genuine. That’s why our groups never less traveled, and we often follow them using exceed 25 travelers. This gives you access to the same unique modes of transportation people and places larger groups simply can’t that the locals use—be it a canoe, a camel or a reach. More authentic interactions. Deeper vintage cab. bonds with your travel mates. Personal service from your Trip Experience Leader. Smoother UNIQUE LODGINGS transitions. And a far more satisfying Our lodgings reflect the local character, experience than any traditional tour offers. from smaller family-run hotels and historic manors to comfy inns. Occasionally, larger THE BEST TRIP EXPERIENCE LEADERS hotels closer to city centers are used. Wherever Your English-speaking, O.A.T. Trip Experience you stay, you’re assured fine comfort and Leader is a resident of the region you are visiting, hospitality. so you will get a true insider’s perspective that brings each place alive—the stories, food, OUR WORLDWIDE OFFICES customs, hidden treasures and more. With 36 regional offices around the world, we are perfectly poised to leverage our local AUTHENTIC CULTURAL CONNECTIONS relationships to deliver an excellent experience Engage with local people through visits to and value. During this trip, you’ll be supported farms, factories, markets, and artisans’ studios; by our team in St. Petersburg. school visits; Home-Hosted meals; and more.

Explore the Swedish town of Silby with a local expert Connect with locals in Gdansk, Poland

4 THE PILLARS OF DISCOVERY En riching. Inspiring. Unforgettable. These features form the foundation of your Grand Baltic Sea Voyage adventure.

GRAND CIRCLE FOUNDATION (GCF) discuss women’s roles and the challenges they VISIT face in contemporary Moroccan society. GCF was established in 1992 to help change A DAY IN THE LIFE people’s lives in the world where we live, Do you ever wonder, “What would it be like work, and travel. To date, we have pledged or to live here?” when you visit new lands? Let’s donated $200 million worldwide. find out during your O.A.T. A Day in the Life, an By investing in the places we explore— exclusive, immersive experience that places including local schools, cooperatives, or arts you in the heart of a community where you’ll centers—we hope to give locals the skills and meet various people where they live, work, confidence they need to become leaders of and play; visit the neighborhood school; lend a their generation and preserve their heritage hand with daily chores; and break bread with for many years to come. We’re proud to play our hosts. a part in preserving precious locales like the Perhaps you’ll join a local resident or Bryggen waterfront district of Bergen, a living community leader for a guided walk through example of the glory days of the Hanseatic the town, visit a market, or enjoy a unique League, and supporting villages like Harmi in opportunity to meet teachers and students at Estonia, whose once-struggling school is now a local school if school is in session. a center of community life. HOME-HOSTED EXPERIENCES CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS Stories shared. Differences solved. Taste buds Every culture has its joys and achievements, engaged. Good will extended. It’s amazing the and we celebrate them all. But every place things that can happen across a kitchen table, also has its challenges, and to gloss over them so we’ll break into groups of 4-5 to join a local would not do justice to those whose stories family in their home for a snack or a meal. need to be told—nor to you, as a traveler who This is a rare opportunity to witness family deserves more than a sugar-coated version of life, learn local customs, and taste some things. So our Trip Experience Leaders will home-cooked fare. lead frank discussions on controversial issues, and introduce you to people whose stories will On this adventure, we’ll learn more about the expand your understanding. rich culture of Riga when we share a meal with a local family in their home. We’ll delve For example, we’ll speak to an expert in into their everyday experiences and gain a Russia about free speech and the popularity unique understanding of the city’s culture, of President Vladimir Putin; in Zambia, we’ll including how family dynamics and gender have a candid conversation with a park ranger roles have gradually changed over the years. in Kafue National Park on trophy hunting, a controversial sport which generates around $200 million in annual revenue across Africa; and we’ll meet a local Tangier woman to

5 GRAND CIRCLE FOUNDATION Changing people’s lives, one village, one school, one person at a time

GIVING BACK TO THE WORLD WE TRAVEL Dear Traveler, Since our inception in 1992, the Grand Circle In 1992 we established Grand Circle Foundation has pledged or donated more than Foundation, an entity of the Lewis Family $200 million to projects around the world. Foundation, as a means to give back to the world that had already given us so JOIN OUR GENEROUS TRAVELERS much. We’ve pledged or donated more We consider each and every one of our travelers than $200 million worldwide to support to be partners in our worldwide giving. the education of young people and the Some travelers, however, are so inspired by preservation of international treasures the schools and villages they visit, they are and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. compelled to give more. In fact, our travelers have donated more than $1 million in 2019 Of course, none of this would be possible alone. And because we have no administrative without your help. A portion of the costs, 100% of donations are used to help proceeds of every adventure is donated to change people’s lives. Grand Circle Foundation—so just as your life will be enriched by the discoveries BETTER OUR OWN COMMUNITIES— you’ll make on your journey, you’ll also ALL AROUND THE WORLD help to enrich the lives of the people In addition to the destinations where we travel, you’ll meet along the way. we strive to better the communities where Thank you for traveling with us, and for we work—from our headquarters in Boston helping to change people’s lives. to our 36 offices around the world. In Boston, more than 99% of our associates participate Love and peace, in community service each year. Worldwide, nearly all of our offices organize annual

community service events of their own. . Harriet R. Lewis Chair, Grand Circle Foundation How you can help To learn more about ongoing Foundation projects, you can sign up for our weekly e-newsletter, the Inside Scoop, at www.oattravel.com/community/the-inside-scoop. When you do, you’ll not only receive updates on Grand Circle Foundation, but the latest news and discoveries on all things Grand Circle and Overseas Adventure Travel.

www.grandcirclefoundation.org

6 THE LEADER IN SOLO TRAVEL in Scandinavia & the Baltics—and Around the World

ON THIS ADVENTURE … FREE or low-cost Single Supplements: The leader in solo-friendly We have a limited number of FREE or low- travel for Americans— cost single supplements on this adventure by the numbers and FREE Single Supplements optional trip extensions—a savings of $1800-$5364 per person compared to other travel More than 50,000 solo travelers companies. But single spaces fill quickly, joined us in 2018 and 2019—on their so early reservations are advised. own or with a friend or relative

One of our most popular trips for solo travelers. More than 649 solo travelers 20,000 single spaces with a joined us on this adventure in the past FREE or low-cost Single Supplement two years—either independently or in 2021—a 25% increase from 2019 sharing a room with a mother, daughter, sister, or friend. More than of solo women High ratings: More than 99% of these 90% travelers rated their adventure solo travelers rated their adventure excellent excellent.

Since you will be joined by others traveling independently in your group, 38 exclusive women’s departures it’s easy to forge special bonds as you featured on 23 of our most popular experience unforgettable moments adventures—8 of which are single- together. only departures

You’ll be in good hands, thanks to your dedicated local Trip Experience Leader (a resident of Scandinavia or the Baltics), and the expertise of our regional office team in St. Petersburg.

Increased Single Space: In 2021, we have 43% more single spaces than in 2019, with up to 12 single spaces per departure. See available FREE single space at www.oattravel.com/crb2021.

Solo doesn’t mean “alone.” Three out of eight O.A.T. travelers join our small groups as solos, so you will be in good company.

7 Explore aboard our privately owned 89-passenger M/V Clio

Grand Baltic Sea Voyage Small Ship Adventure Denmark:!ŋťāłĞÖėāł̇ŋũłĞŋķĿ̳Ά̳Poland:FùÖłŭĴ̳Ά̳Sweden:ÁĢŭðƘ̇œŶŋóĴĞŋķĿΆ Latvia:˜ĢėÖ̳Ά̳ Estonia:¦ÖķķĢłł̳Ά̳Russia:œŶ̍”āŶāũŭðŽũė̳Ά̳Finland: Helsinki

Countries: 7Ά!ĢŶĢāŭ̆9Ά10 Nights Aboard Our Privately Owned 89-Passenger M/V Clio ŋũ̵98-Passenger̵m̓Á̵Corinthian

Small Groups: 20-25 travelers It’s Included (average of 22)—guaranteed! • International airfare, airport transfers, • 14 guided tours and cultural government taxes, fees, and airline fuel experiences $ surcharges, unless you choose to make 14 days from 7695 Services of our local Trip Experience your own air arrangements • Includes international airfare Leader with your group of 20-25 Travel from only $550 a day • Accommodations for 1 night in (average of 22) throughout Copenhagen, 10 nights aboard our your adventure privately owned small ship with Gratuities for local guides and 13 days from $ wireless Internet access, and 1 night • 6395 motorcoach drivers Without international airfare in Stockholm • All port charges • 35 meals: 13 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 12 FREE Single Supplement available dinners—including 1 Home-Hosted • Baggage handling for 1 piece of luggage Dinner—plus all onboard house beer, per person, including tips wine, and soft drinks • 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward Maximize Your your next trip Discoveries & Value To get a richer view of the Included Features on this adventure, Optional extensions : watch our Trip Itinerary video at www.oattravel.com/crb2021 Copenhagen, Denmark 3 nights pre-trip from $1295 Travel from only $432 per night Stockholm, Sweden 3 nights post-trip from $1295 Travel from only $432 per night

Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood, St. Petersburg, Russia

Grand Baltic Sea Voyage

8 Grand Baltic Sea Voyage

YOUR DETAILED ITINERARY

BEGIN YOUR ADVENTURE WITH AN OPTIONAL PRE-TRIP EXTENSION 3 nights in Copenhagen, Denmark

Day 1 Depart U.S. Day 4 Explore Copenhagen Day 2 Copenhagen, Denmark Day 5 Explore Copenhagen • Join main trip Day 3 Explore Copenhagen

Day 1 Depart U.S. Based on your arrival time, your Trip Experience Leader will offer multiple Depart the U.S. today on your flight to opportunities to join an orientation walk to Copenhagen, Denmark. Please refer to your get acquainted with the area around the hotel personal air itinerary for exact departure and and some of the sites you may choose to return arrival times. to in your free time. Stroll by Amalienborg Palace, where the Danish royal family resides. Day 2 Arrive Copenhagen, Denmark Constructed in 1760, the area consists of a • Destination: Copenhagen cluster of four palaces, two of which are open • Included Meals: Dinner to the public. Your Trip Experience Leader will speak to the history of the Danish monarchy • Accommodations: Copenhagen Admiral there, as well as what royalty looks like in Hotel or similar the country today—you can still witness Afternoon: Upon arrival in Denmark, you’ll be the changing of the guard surrounding the met at the airport by an O.A.T. representative premises, and the family still uses many of the and transferred by motorcoach or car to your reception rooms to greet leaders from around hotel, around 30 minutes away. Upon arrival, the world. you will receive your room assignments, and check in (regular check-in time is after 3pm). Make your way to the glistening waterfront You’ll be joining your fellow travelers who took for a view of Maersk Opera House, a feat of the Copenhagen, Denmark pre-trip extension. modern architecture, as well as of the recycling plant. Denmark is considered a forerunner in We stay for one night in a centrally-located green energy and waste management, and hotel. Typical rooms include a minibar, safe, air your Trip Experience Leader will provide some conditioning, wireless Internet, and a private perspective on the history of the industry in en suite bathroom. Copenhagen and how it has affected residents’ daily lives. The waste-to-energy plant, in fact,

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

9 includes a year-round ski slope climbing wall, is perfect for those wishing to escape the so visitors can experience a blend of education bustling city and enjoy a peaceful afternoon and recreation. surrounded by nature.

Of course, you’ll also walk past colorful Nyhavn • How to get there: Approximately an hour as well as the many nearby grocery stores, walk or 20-25 minute taxi ride from the pharmacies, and ATMs surrounding your hotel. hotel. You can explore Copenhagen on a deeper • Hours: 8:30am-6pm, daily. level with a number of suggested free time • Cost: About $9 USD per person. activities. If time allows today, you might take • Explore the Carlsberg Glyptotek: Discover an approximate one-hour canal ride around this museum dedicated to the artistic collec- the city. tion of Carl Jacobsen—the son of Carlsberg Breweries founder—including his antique Around 6:15pm, join your fellow travelers and sculptures with influences from several walk to a local restaurant about 15 minutes ancient Mediterranean cultures, such as away from the hotel. Rome, Greece, and Egypt. Originally displayed Dinner: Enjoy a Welcome Dinner from in the garden of Jacobsen’s private villa, his 6:30pm-8:30pm at the restaurant, which collection grew so much that an entire mu- features local Danish fare. seum space was necessary to accommodate all the pieces. In addition to the sculptures, Evening: Walk back to the hotel for the evening which are the focal point of the museum, art following dinner around 8:30pm and rest after lovers will also appreciate a large collection your journey. of paintings from French impressionists, post-impressionists, and the Danish Golden Freedom To Explore: During your time in Age—with works by Monet, Degas, Jacques- Copenhagen, you have the freedom to explore Louis David, van Gogh, and Bonnard. Visitors Denmark’s capital on your own during your free usually spend two to three hours here and end time. Below are a few recommended options for their tour by unwinding in the winter garden. independent explorations: • How to get there: About a 45 minute walk • Stroll through the city’s colorful Botanical or 20 minute taxi ride from the hotel. Garden: Located in the heart of Copenhagen, • Hours: 11am-6pm, Tuesday-Sunday; this garden famously features the largest 11am-9pm, Thursday. collection of living plants in the world, • Cost: About $18 USD per person. covering more than 10 hectares with complex • Delve into the world of 18th-century glasshouses dating back to 1874. The garden European art at the David Collection muse- serves as both a recreational space and a place um: Peruse the notable art collections once for research as it is part of the University of owned by C. L. David, a prominent lawyer Copenhagen Faculty of Science. There are in Denmark, which include masterpieces more than 13,000 species housed in the gar- from the 8th to the mid-19th centuries. This den, which are all arranged for easy viewing. private collection is displayed in what was Visitors will find 600 species of Danish plants, David’s home and since his death in 1960, the 1,100 species of perennial plants, 1,100 species museum has continuously acquired new piec- of annual plants, and rock gardens including es. The three main permanent collections are plants from mountainous areas in Central and the Collection of Islamic Art, the Collection Southern Europe and Conifer Hill. The garden

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

10 of European 18th-Century Art (which is now Next, at around 9:30am, we’ll go for a complete), and the Collection of Danish Early 20-minute walk through the public gardens to Modern Art. The Islamic Art Collection is the see the city’s signature attraction—the Little most well-known and features pieces from Mermaid monument. Unveiled in 1913, the an expansive area that spans from Spain to Little Mermaid was designed from bronze and China (west to east) and Uzbekistan to Yemen granite by Edvard Eriksen and given as a gift (north to south). From furniture to silverware to the city from Danish brewer Carl Jacobsen to paintings, discover “the most exclusive of Carlsberg Breweries. The statue marks the museum in Denmark,” as described by a influence of fairy tale writer Hans Christian Danish newspaper. Andersen, who was born in Copenhagen. • How to get there: Approximately a 25 Andersen published the original story in 1837 minute walk from the hotel. in a collection of children’s stories, and since • Hours: 10am-5pm, Tuesday-Sunday; then, the journey of a young mermaid willing 10am-9pm, Wednesday. to risk everything for a human soul has been • Cost: Free. retold and adapted again and again. A small, but intricately sculpted statue, the Little Mermaid Day 3 Explore Copenhagen • Embark ship has guarded Copenhagen’s harbor for over a century. In 2013, a celebration of the statue’s • Destination: Copenhagen 100th year took place throughout the city. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner • Accommodations: M/V Clio or M/V Corinthian We’ll reboard the motorcoach around 10am and begin our drive to Rosenborg Castle, Breakfast: Served from 6:30am-8:30am at the built by Christian IV in the early 1600s in hotel, with international options available. the iconic Renaissance architectural style. Morning: Following breakfast, you’ll have Rosenborg provides a more complete picture some time to relax before discovering of Danish royal history, which you learned Copenhagen. A local guide will join you and about in brief during your orientation walk your Trip Experience Leader on your tour to around Amalienborg Palace. Rosenborg Castle provide an expert perspective on the city’s past chronicles over four centuries of Danish royal and present. history, and even houses the monarchy’s royal jewels. You’ll get the chance to stop here briefly Around 9am, board a motorcoach headed for at around 10:45am, walking around the grounds the city center. After around 15 minutes of as your local guide discusses the massive driving, we’ll arrive at our first stop, the Gefion castle’s elaborate history. Fountain. Here, you’ll have a chance to get off the motorcoach to see the massive fountain At around 11am, we’ll depart on an approximate on the harbor that depicts the legendary Norse 20-minute drive for Christiansborg. Once we goddess Gefion. A touchstone of the Norse arrive, we’ll walk to the Royal Library and tour mythology, Gefjon is referenced in many poems the picturesque gardens. Nestled between the and epics throughout the centuries as the Palace and the Royal Library itself, the Library “mother” of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. Garden is considered one of the most peaceful The statue at the fountain’s center depicts places in Copenhagen, a reprieve from the fast Gefion and the creation of Zealand, the island pace of city life. We’ll gather for a discussion on which Denmark was founded, as she plows outside of the Library’s Old Galley House, through the earth with her oxen. which has been home to the Danish Jewish

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

11 Museum since 2004. This sobering museum in all cabins and common areas—the front chronicles the stories of Danish Jews who were desk staff will be happy to provide you with an helped by non-Jewish Danes to escape the access code. Nazis in October 1943. Around 6:30pm, you’ll meet with your Trip We’ll continue our tour of Copenhagen around Experience Leader onboard for a Port Talk noon, driving through the city’s vibrant on Bornholm—your next destination. These modern neighborhoods. The tour will end informative conversations will give you an in bustling Stroget, one of Europe’s longest overview of the following day’s itinerary, and pedestrian shopping streets. prepare you for the discoveries ahead.

Lunch: As your tour wraps up, walk with your Dinner: Around 7pm, dinner is served onboard Trip Experience Leader into the heart of Stroget in the ship’s dining room. Dinners onboard where you can shop and have lunch at one of include a three-course meal with a choice of the many restaurants and cafes on your own. meat, fish, and vegetarian options available. Perhaps you’ll try a traditional favorite among As with all the dinners during your cruise, the Danish locals, smorrebrod (an open-faced atmosphere is relaxed, the dress code is smart sandwich), commonly topped with shrimp, casual, and you are free to sit at whichever table meat, egg, or vegetables. you please.

Afternoon: We’ll depart Stroget en route to our Evening: You have the freedom to spend the small ship around 3pm, our home for the next rest of your evening as you wish as the ship 10 nights. Our ship docks close to Copenhagen’s sets sail for Bornholm. Perhaps you’ll enjoy live city center for privacy and convenience, where music in the bar area around 8:45pm. most larger ships are unable to dock. Upon arrival at the dock around 3:15pm, we’ll begin Day 4 Spend A Day in the Life of the the embarkation process. Danish island of Bornholm • Captain’s Meet the Captain and crew in the lounge, Welcome Dinner participate in a safety briefing, and take some • Destination: Bornholm time to relax and explore the ship beginning at • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner around 3:45pm. Throughout your adventure, • Accommodations: M/V Clio or M/V Corinthian you’ll experience a family-like atmosphere onboard that will make you feel right at Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Our activities this home—many crew members will likely know morning feature A Day in the Life experience you by name come dinner time. in Bornholm. This included activity provides an opportunity to venture into the homes You’ll also have time to get acquainted with and workplaces of local villagers, where we’ll the ship’s inviting common areas. The lounge immerse ourselves in daily life in order to better is equipped with couches and chairs and a understand regional traditions and customs. specialty coffee-maker available at all hours, Read more about this experience below. and the adjacent bar serves complimentary house beer, house wine, and soft drinks Activity Note: Depending on availability and throughout the day. A topside Sun Deck features departure, you may experience a number ample deck chairs for admiring the scenery. of A Day in the Life experiences, including Complimentary wireless Internet is available learning about the art form of ceramics with local artists, visiting a family-owned organic

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

12 farm, exploring a family-owned apple cider of Bornholm, serving from 1990-2002, as production facility, visiting a locally-owned well as a former municipal council member. berry farm, or enjoying time at a family-owned As we get to know him this morning, we’ll micro-brewery, followed by discovering the learn about a few of the local initiatives he marine center of Tejn harbor. spearheaded, including policies which enabled the development of organic agriculture. He Breakfast: From 7:30am-9am onboard. All was also instrumental in transforming the breakfasts onboard are served on the ship’s local economy in the early 1990s. Prior to that veranda, with international and American time, fishing was the major industry here; options available. Coffee and pastry are however, when the European Union introduced always available for early risers beginning at fishing quotas, it no longer became a viable around 7am. way to make a living. Thousands of locals lost Morning: Because of our ship’s small size, their jobs, but thanks to the leadership of we’ll be able to dock in Ronne this morning, a those like Knud, other industries—like glass port town on Denmark’s island of Bornholm. production—eventually emerged. Today, Knud Strategically located in the Baltic Sea—just remains a member of a local island committee east of Denmark, south of Sweden, northeast which aims to support Bornholm entrepreneurs of Germany, and north of Poland, claim to this and small businesses. northerly isle has been disputed for centuries. At about 10:45am, we’ll say goodbye to our For most of this time, it was ruled by Denmark, new friend and board our private motorcoach but also by Sweden and Lübeck, Germany. for a 15-minute drive to Avijll Apple Cider Today, boasting a population of just under farm, where we’ll meet husband and wife 40,000, the primary industries on Bornholm owners Alex and Line. This activity is quite are dairy farming and arts and crafts, namely fitting, as “Avijll” in an old Bornholm dialect glass production and pottery using locally actually translates to “apple,” underscoring the sourced clay. enduring tradition of this agricultural practice. Our day’s discoveries include A Day in the Life Upon arrival around 11am, Alex and Line will experience on this quaint, breezy island, where welcome us to their property and provide an we’ll first split up into smaller groups to make introduction to their facilities, as well as the for an intimate morning. Your day may be spent history of the operation. Situated in the center learning about the art form of ceramics with of the island and featuring views of nearby local artists, visiting a family-owned organic Ekkodalen, Avijill is not only home to a cider farm, exploring a family-owned apple cider production house, but also a brewery, bed and production facility, visiting a locally-owned breakfast, as well as vineyards. As we delve berry farm, or enjoying time at a family-owned into the farm’s history, we’ll learn how Line’s micro-brewery, followed by discovering the great grandfather was also in the business of marine center of Tejn harbor. apple cider-making, formerly owning a nursery and orchard in the village of Allinge. As she got For those who visit the apple cider production older, Line was inspired to stay true to her roots facility, our A Day in the Life begins when and carry on this tradition. We’ll also hear how we meet with local resident Knud Andersen she met her husband Alex, who brings extensive at his home near the town center (if Knud is knowledge of beer brewing, fermentation, and unavailable, we will meet with another resident bread-baking to the business. Together, they community leader). Knud is a former mayor founded Avijll in 2017, and for nearly a year,

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13 commuted between Bornholm and their former also have an opportunity to sample several home of Copenhagen before permanently varieties of ciders and ask any questions we making the move to the island. may have about production.

Around 11:15am, we’ll embark on a brief Following this insightful activity, we’ll then walking tour around the 24-acre property, have the opportunity to help Alex and Line led by our hosts. While we walk, we’ll take with several chores around the farm at about in views of the idyllic grounds, dotted with 11:30am. Perhaps we’ll pick apples, assist pastures, meadows, forests, ponds, bogs, with production, or even help care for some of and a number of lakes. We’ll also hear how the animals. Then around 11:45am, we’ll join Alex and Line strive to run the grounds our hosts in preparing for the lunch we’ll all according to biodynamic and permaculture share together. We may assist with harvesting cultivation principles—in fact, they describe and chopping vegetables from the garden, or their methods as being “close to nature.” retrieving eggs from the chicken coop. You can imagine that on an island as small Lunch: Around 12pm at Alex and Line’s as Bornholm—occupying an area of just 227 farmhouse, featuring farm-fresh, seasonal fare. square miles—sustainability is crucial for the survival of local businesses; hence why it is at Afternoon: Around 1:30pm, we’ll bid farewell the heart of every agricultural operation here. to our hosts for a 15-minute drive back to As we explore the grounds, we’ll also notice the the ship. The remainder of the day is for your sizeable herd of cattle, sheep, and chickens, own discoveries in Bornholm (considered the primarily kept for personal use. “Pearl of the Baltic Sea” because of its colorful scenery)—ask your Trip Experience Leader for After getting acquainted with the property, recommendations. This island has long been we’ll receive a thorough overview of the apple a popular vacation spot for the Danes, but not cider production process, beginning with an one that has been discovered by international introduction to the apples themselves. Alex and travelers. Many locals also call Bornholm the Line cultivate a number of Nordic varieties, “sunshine island” because it gets more sun some of which are rather common and others than anywhere else in the region—all the more which are exceedingly rare. All of them boast reason to take a stroll through its winding distinctive taste profiles, carefully curated streets and soak in the sites. and processed to make their signature cider. We’ll then step into the production facility, There will be shuttle buses provided throughout where Alex and Line will walk us through the your free time to bring you to nearby towns cider-making process. We’ll see how the apples you may be interested in exploring during are first macerated, or softened by soaking in your discoveries of Bornholm. Perhaps you’ll a liquid, then fermented slowly over time. This want to explore the fishing town of Gudhjem. first fermentation is what gives the cider its Perched high on a hill, you’ll find panoramic aroma and flavor. Then, the cider is fermented views of the Baltic Sea as you amble through for a second time in bottles, which then causes its quiet neighborhoods. Or, you might rather bubbles to develop. As we learn about this explore Svaneke to get a sense of small-town process, we’ll observe the machinery Alex life in Denmark, from the town’s rose-hued and Line rely on to maintain the quality and church to its colorful harbor. You may get the craftsmanship for which they’re known. We’ll

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14 chance to chat with locals and learn about providing an intimate lens through which our their businesses, or walk through the old small group can glean insight. Read more about market square. this activity below.

Around 6:30pm, you’ll gather for a Captain’s Breakfast: From 7:30am-9am onboard, with Welcome Cocktail before a Port Talk on international and American options available. Gdansk—your next destination. Morning: Around 9am, we’ll depart for the city Dinner: From around 8:45pm-10pm, gather of Gdansk, Poland—across from the very spot in the ship’s dining room for the Captain’s where World War II began—by motorcoach. Welcome Dinner. While the dress code at Our discoveries begin around 9:30am alongside mealtimes is always relaxed and smart casual, a local expert who will guide us through the some travelers opt to wear a day dress or Stare Miasto (Old Town). A maritime city slacks for the Welcome Dinner. As they say that’s existed for a millenium, Gdansk has in Scandinavia, “smaklig måltid” (“enjoy fluctuated between great prosperity and tragic your meal”). destruction—and Old Town still shows both wartime scars and rich architectural beauty. Evening: At leisure. Perhaps you’ll enjoy a As we explore on foot for about 45 minutes, nightcap at the bar. our local guide will explain what went into the reconstruction of the town following World Day 5 Explore Gdansk, Poland • War II and how it recovered to become what it Controversial Topic: Poland’s is today. paradoxical immigration stance with a Muslim migrant & former activist We’ll wander past the town hall and its Neptune Fountain, rumored to have once spouted • Destination: Gdansk Gdansk’s trademark liqueur, Goldwasser, • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner instead of water. Along the way, witness the • Accommodations: M/V Clio or M/V Corinthian city’s many gates—including the Green Gate, Golden Gate, and Upland Gate. We’ll also see Activity Note: The guided tour of Gdansk will the Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers, require approximately 1.5 miles of walking three 138-foot-tall steel crosses at the entrance along cobblestone streets, requiring good to the city’s shipyard. A sudden spike in food agility and balance. If the Archaeological costs in 1970 led to mass riots throughout Museum is unavailable for our Controversial northern Poland that left at least 40 dead and Topic conversation, our group will instead more than 1,000 wounded. This monument congregate at the Maritime Cultural Center and was the first to commemorate the victims of a Museum, located just 5 minutes away on foot. communist regime. Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today’s activities At about 10:45am, our walking tour will feature the Controversial Topic of immigration conclude at the Archaeological Museum, in Poland led by a Muslim migrant and former located along the banks of the Motlawa River. activist. This is an increasingly contentious The building itself dates back to the 16th topic in Europe—and especially—Poland, century, though much of it was destroyed where 97% of the population consist of ethnic during World War II and then later restored. Poles. Our conversation will examine the The collections amassed here document and issue from both a political and personal angle, celebrate the cultural heritage of Poland,

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15 providing an all-too-relevant backdrop for our And visa issuances reflect both this agenda conversation about the Controversial Topic and sentiment: In 2017, 85% of visas granted of immigration—perhaps the most divisive to foreign workers went to people from issue facing the country. To facilitate, we’ll be Ukraine—an overwhelmingly white, Christian met by an immigrant living in Gdansk, whose country. Contrastingly, Poland has fiercely name we cannot disclose for his own safety. resisted opening their arms to refugees Our speaker has lived in Poland now for eight coming from Muslim majority and African years and currently owns a business. He is a countries—even though, as a member of the practicing Muslim who frequently feels his European Union, they are technically obligated life is at risk—and he has reason to: Over the to do so. Loopholes and strategic bureaucracy years, he has suffered verbal and physical abuse have enabled them to stall the distribution on the streets. In fact, he still receives threats of these visas long enough for “undesirable” on a regular basis. To combat xenophobia and immigrants to be allocated to other nations. racism, he lent his efforts to various NGOs, Even for white, Christian refugees, the average as well as a local immigrant support center, wait time for a visa is two years. Of course, the in the early years of his transition to Polish irony in all of this is that Poland has benefited society. However, he recently pulled away immensely from the European Union’s from these organizations and now chooses Schengen borders, pocketing billions of dollars to help immigrants on his own time, citing a in payments from the hundreds of thousands lack of faith in institutions as a motivation for of Polish workers who freely migrate to other this shift. countries in the union. In fact, since 2004, more than 3 million Poles have permanently Poland is the most ethnically homogenous immigrated to other European Union countries country in Europe—97% ethnic Pole, 2% in search of a better life. European, and less than 1% non-European. At the height of the migrant crisis in 2015, But obtaining a Polish visa is just the first the far-right Law and Justice party (PiS) took hurdle—cultural assimilation is another. Unlike power, and since that time, the administration most other E.U. nations, Poland’s government has deliberately stoked the fires of intolerance, has no integration model in place, leaving orchestrating campaigns that bear such immigrants to navigate the system utterly slogans as “Poland for Poles” and “Pure alone. For instance, language classes are not blood, clear mind.” In fact, Prime Minister provided—making it near impossible for them Mateusz Morawiecki has openly declared his to understand the immigration support center’s party’s ideology, saying in a 2017 interview website, written entirely in Polish. Former with a Catholic television station, “We want to Gdansk mayor, Pawel Adamowicz, strove to reshape Europe and re-Christianize it.” The improve these less than welcoming conditions government even went so far as to order new by developing an integration model together passports to include the phrase, “God, Honor, with the immigrant support center in 2015. Motherland.” Unfortunately, polls show that The plan gained a bit of traction, but before it this rhetoric has pervaded the minds of most could go any further, Adamowicz was stabbed of the nation: 70% of the population opposes to death during a live charity event in January migrants from the Middle East and Africa. 2019. The motive is unsubstantiated, but many attribute the attack to his liberal views.

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16 Throughout our 1-hour conversation, we’ll Around 3:30pm, we’ll make the 30-minute examine the policies and social conditions that drive back to the ship and set sail for Visby, led to such a right-wing Poland, and we’ll also Sweden, overnight. After about two hours of have about 40-minutes to ask our speaker any free time to relax onboard, you’ll rejoin your questions we may have. Perhaps you’d like fellow travelers and Trip Experience Leader for to know more about the discrimination he’s a Port Talk on Visby. experienced, or maybe you’re wondering how Dinner: From 7pm-8:30pm onboard in the he helps immigrants adjust to local culture. ship’s dining room. We’ll return to the motorcoach around 11:45am Evening: You have the freedom to spend the and drive for about 30 minutes back to the ship rest of your evening as you wish. Perhaps for lunch. you’ll enjoy a nightcap at the bar or relax in Lunch: Served buffet-style around 12:30pm the lounge. onboard, with local and international options available. You may also choose to stay in town Day 6 Explore Visby, Sweden for lunch. Perhaps you’ll try a comforting bowl • Destination: Visby of rosol—a Polish staple that’s very similar to • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner chicken noodle soup—or indulge in a savory potato-filled dumpling called a pierogi, another • Accommodations: M/V Clio or M/V Corinthian Polish specialty. Breakfast: From 7:30am-9am onboard, with international and American options available. Afternoon: Following lunch, we’ll reboard our motorcoach and depart for the 30-minute Morning: We’ll dock in Visby this morning, drive to the Solidarity Center, arriving around in a small port that larger ships are not able 2pm. This institution serves as a museum and to access. Situated on the Swedish island of library documenting the history of Solidarity, Gotland, Visby is considered the best-preserved the Polish trade union, and other opposition medieval town in Scandinavia. Following movements of Communist Eastern Europe. breakfast, you have some free time to prepare There, a local guide will help us understand for your walking tour. how Lech Walesa spearheaded the Solidarity movement as a labor activist. We’ll also Around 9:30am, we’ll set off on a 30-minute examine how he is viewed by the Polish walk to the Gotland Museum for a guided tour population today. Walesa, who worked as an with a local expert. You’ll delve into the rich electrician, helped establish the Solidarity history of the region as you view displays of trade union in 1980. Solidarity is considered by pre-Viking picture stones, medieval wooden many to have contributed largely to the fall of sculptures, and the world’s largest collection communism in the country, making its mark of preserved silver treasure. Your local guide as the first independent workers’ union in the will provide insight on some of the museum’s Eastern Block that ultimately helped transform 400,000 collected objects that create a unique Poland into a democratic nation. At about 3pm, mosaic depicting medieval life in the Baltics. we’ll have time to explore the center on our Then, from about 11:15am-12pm, you’ll own, which contains around 2,000 exhibits and continue with your local guide to begin a 100,000 books. 1.5-mile walking tour of the historic town of Gotland. First, you’ll take a stroll through the

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17 colorful botanical garden, followed by a walk If you’d like to pursue a more active afternoon, through the narrow streets of the old town you may hike to Visby’s upper ruins for a to enjoy towering medieval architecture. As panoramic view of Gotland and the harbor you explore this town from the Middle Ages, perched along the Baltic Sea. your local guide will discuss what everyday Lunch: You may choose to have lunch onboard life is like in Gotland, and provide insight into around 1:30pm, or extend your free time and the national identity of Gotlanders and their return to the ship for a later lunch around 2pm. relationship with the rest of Sweden. Now is the perfect time to ask questions about Sweden’s Afternoon: The afternoon is yours to relax local culture, traditions, and current issues. onboard as your ship cruises toward Riga, Perhaps your guide can provide personal Latvia. Rejoin your Trip Experience Leader in insight on environmental issues like soil the lounge around 6:30pm for a Port Talk about degradation, or the country’s centuries-long Riga’s past and present. tumultuous relationship with Russia. Dinner: Served from 7pm-8:30pm onboard in After your tour, you’re free to make your own the ship’s dining room. discoveries from around 12pm to 1:45pm. Perhaps you’ll want to witness the signature Evening: You have the freedom to spend the ringmur (ringwall) encircling the town since rest of your evening as you wish. Perhaps the 13th century. Reachable only by boat or you’ll enjoy a nightcap at the bar or relax in plane, and beloved as a holiday destination the lounge. for Swedes, the “City of Ruins and Roses” is rich with historical artifacts, earning it Day 7 Explore Riga, Latvia • Controversial a designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Topic: Latvia’s ongoing recovery from Site. See its history unfold as its hundreds of Soviet occupation & modern-day threats warehouses and merchant homes tell the story to independence with Karina & Aija • of its heyday as a major port between Russia Home-Hosted Dinner and Western Europe for the Hanseatic League. • Destination: Riga You may also choose to visit a women’s • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner cooperative and talk with the members to gain • Accommodations: M/V Clio or M/V Corinthian a deeper understanding of the local culture Exclusive O.A.T. Activities: Today’s agenda and what its like to run and own a business in features a conversation surrounding the Sweden. The cooperative was established as Controversial Topic of Latvia’s recovery from a space for women to sell their artisan crafts, Soviet occupation and the ongoing intimidation as well as food like homemade honey and jam it faces from Russia. Led by two local experts, and fresh fruit. Around 15 women, all Gotland we’ll examine Latvia’s journey to independence residents, operate the store together and meet and the heroic activism that made it possible, regularly to discuss new products to sell and as well as the ever-looming threat of history hone in on quality assurance. You might take repeating itself. The day’s activities also the opportunity to ask the women about what include a Home-Hosted Dinner, allowing us to daily life looks like on this quaint island, or venture into the home of a family in Riga. This about their perspectives on how the cooperative is a special opportunity afforded to us by our has united women’s independent businesses small group size and facilitated by the regional from all over Gotland.

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18 connections of our local Trip Experience it was like growing up under such tyrannical Leaders. During our shared meal, you’ll learn and terrifying conditions, and we’ll also learn more about daily life in the capital city from how her experiences continue to fuel her these residents, and take part in the customs activism today. and culinary traditions of the region. Read more Like Karina, Aija’s family was also directly about this experience below. impacted by Soviet forces when her aunt was Breakfast: From 7am-9am onboard, with deported to Siberia following World War II. international and American options available. This involuntary family separation lasted for almost two decades, until her aunt was finally Morning: After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll able to return in the 1960s. Today, Aija works depart by private motorcoach around 10am for a closely with the Latvian memorial center for 15-minute drive to the New Riga library. There, occupation to document her aunt’s memoirs we’ll split into smaller groups of no more than of this harrowing time, in hopes that Soviet 25 travelers to learn about the Controversial oppression and those who suffered are never Topic of Latvia’s struggle to recover from forgotten. Soviet occupation, as well as the continuous threats it faces from Russia. Thirty years have As we learn about the family history of these passed since Latvia declared independence, and two speakers, we’ll also come to understand today, we’ll talk about the long road the nation the political and economic events that gave way has traveled to get here—and the forces which to such turmoil. Following World War II, the seek to derail it. Our meeting place is symbolic Baltic states were officially incorporated into of this national effort, as it is the first modern the Soviet Union via military occupation and structure to be built in Riga since parting ways annexation. Over the decades, the Baltic states from the Soviet Union. Today’s conversation saw a sharp decline in trust and satisfaction will be facilitated by one of two local experts: with Soviet Union authorities—including Karina Petersone and Aija Tamsone, each of former Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev, whom will regale our smaller groups with their who attempted to boost the failing economy personal accounts to illustrate the oppression through controversial means, like rescinding they and their families endured. limitations on political freedoms. In addition to questionable practices and an imbalance Karina is a former member of the Latvian of freedoms, the Soviet-Afghan War and Parliament, joining shortly after the Baltic nuclear fallout in Chernobyl led to an even nation declared independence in 1991. She is further degradation of trust between the considered one of the many young politicians Baltic states and Russia. Furthermore, who led Latvia into a new era of prosperity non-Russian populations became increasingly and freedom. But this revolutionary political concerned about the threat to their national activism didn’t start with her generation, of identities posed by the migration of various course. As we’ll learn, Karina’s grandfather ethnic groups. All of these factors combined was a democrat and freedom fighter seeking to culminated in mass demonstrations throughout liberate his country. Because of his affiliations the 1980s and into the 1990s, perhaps the most and beliefs, Karina’s family was persecuted by famous of which were the Singing Revolution Soviet forces during the second occupation, of 1988, a mass signing demonstration, and even losing their home to the regime. During the Baltic Chain of 1989, a demonstration in our conversation, Karina will recount what which more than 2 million Latvians, Estonians,

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19 and Lithuanians joined hands in a show of Upon our arrival around 11:45am, we’ll set solidarity—a chain which ran the length of off on a roughly 20-minute walking tour of all three countries. By the end of the 1980s, the Art Noveau district. Accompanied by a pro-independence campaigns spread like local guide, we’ll explore facades from the wildfire throughout the Baltic states. After early 20th-century period, during which years of struggle—often met with violent architecture took a romantic turn in response resistance by Soviet Paratroopers, Latvia to the Eclecticism and Revivalist architectural declared its independence on August 21, 1991. movements of the 19th century. Riga’s Art Noveau buildings are identified by their blend Shortly after its liberation, Latvia severed of opulent decoration with practical structure, most political, economic and cultural ties with and are known for unique elements like tall its hostile neighbor, sending clear signals stained glass windows and intricate sculptures. that a new era was upon the region. Tensions Your local guide will speak to the different with Russia brewed ever since, increasing styles nestled within the Art Noveau trend and exponentially when Latvia became a member how each is represented throughout the district. of NATO on March 29, 2004. Citizens of Latvia—and throughout the Baltics—continue We’ll continue our discoveries around 12pm to carry their trauma, and for them, one and drive about 10 minutes to the Old Town, question remains: is Russia still a threat? passing through the city center. Along the way, Some feel that it’s time to move on, but many we’ll notice the influence of Soviet architecture point to evidence that suggests otherwise, like here, as Riga’s city center functioned as a the 2014 annexation of Crimea following the manufacturing hub for the USSR during Ukrainian revolution. Concerned Latvians fear Latvia’s Communist past. Our drive will also that this highly controversial (and most would take us through a former Jewish ghetto, say, illegal) move is an indication that Russia ruins of the former city wall, and the area’s may be trying to repeat history. During our Byzantine-style Orthodox cathedral. We’ll 1-hour conversation, we’ll hear what Karina arrive in the Old Town at about 12:15pm, where and Aija think about Russia’s intentions and we’ll embark on an approximately 45-minute whether or not they worry about the future. walking tour. As a diverse, thriving city with After a 20-minute presentation, we’ll open up a prominent upper class, Riga experienced the conversation to a 40-minute Q&A. Take this radical change under occupation by the opportunity to ask questions about Karina’s Soviets and Nazis. Buildings from Riga’s most political activism and Aija’s determination to prosperous eras still stand throughout the city. preserve the stories of this turbulent period so As we discover the ancient relics of the city, that they may never happen again. you may witness ancient sites like St. Peter’s Church, built in the 15th century and Riga’s Around 11:30am, we’ll depart the library for a oldest monument. Perhaps you’ll also want to 10-minute drive to the Art Noveau district of explore the Town Hall square that dates back to Riga. Situated near the mouth of the Daugava the 13th century and features unique Hanseatic River, which travels from the Baltic Sea into architecture around every bend. Russia, Riga served as an important trade port for centuries. Its prosperity also made it a target At about 12:45pm, we’ll depart by private for conquest: before Latvia declared itself an motorcoach for the 10-minute ride back to the independent nation in 1918, Riga was claimed ship for lunch. by Russia, Sweden, Lithuania, and Germany.

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20 Lunch: Served buffet-style from 1pm-2:30pm better (or worse). For example, you may like onboard, with local and international options to discuss family dynamics and gender roles available. You also have the option to stay in Latvia—over the years, the role of woman in Old Town for lunch. This is a great time as housekeeper and husband as provider has to try Latvia’s traditional cuisine, such as gradually become dismantled, creating more pelmeni dumplings (often described as a cross fluid family dynamics. Our meal this evening between Polish pierogi and Italian tortellini) will consist of traditional dishes made with and karbonade—a type of pork that’s flattened local organic produce. These dishes will vary; and fried. however, you can look forward to the Latvian staple of rupjmaize, a variety of rye bread Afternoon: From around 2:30pm-5:30pm, you commonly enjoyed by locals. have free time to relax on the ship and prepare for your local dinner tonight, or take one of We’re afforded this special privilege by our the available shuttles to and from Riga’s city small group size; by dining in groups of no center for further explorations. During this more than 9, we’re given the chance to enter time, you also have the option to join your Trip local homes and connect on a one-to-one level, Experience Leader for a walk to a local food and to even share a little with our hosts about market for a tasting of regional delicacies, as who we are and what has brought us to Latvia. well as to peruse traditional Latvian arts and Evening: We’ll depart around 8pm and return crafts. You might, for example, visit a local to the ship at roughly 8:30pm by private glassblower or stop by a chocolate stall to enjoy motorcoach, where we’ll have the rest of the a sweet treat. evening to rest and prepare for another day of At around 5:30pm, our group will reconvene at discoveries. the ship, break into smaller groups of no more Freedom To Explore: During your time in Riga, than 9 travelers, and depart for a 30-minute you have the freedom to explore this city on private motorcoach ride to meet one of three your own during your free time. Below are a or four local families from various walks of life. few recommended options for independent Together, we’ll enjoy a Home-Hosted Dinner explorations: and get to know one another. • Learn about Latvia’s troubling past at the Dinner: Around 6pm in the home or Museum of the Occupation of Latvia: apartment of a local family in Riga. We’ll Uncover the history of Latvia’s occupation, discuss what everyday life is like and gain a which lasted for 51 years—the Soviet Union unique understanding of the city’s culture from 1940-1941, Nazi Germany from 1941- over a traditional meal together. Riga is a 1944, and then the Soviet Union again from spirited blend of old and new, with vestiges 1944-1991. In the museum, visitors can of Art Nouveau grandeur and cutting edge view intergovernmental agreements and architecture at every turn. As we’ll learn, this documents, photographs, and artifacts from dichotomy is also apparent in local culture: a time of tragedy and totalitarian regimes. a hip, cosmopolitan vibe informed by a Gain a deeper understanding of the inhumane turbulent, 800-year-heritage. While we dine, conditions Latvians were forced into, as well you might ask the family about ever-evolving as their resistance against the occupying traditions, such as what customs they practice powers. The museum is home to nearly or how they feel things are changing for the

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21 60,000 items, plus an audiovisual archive of unique artistic heritage, as well as educate more than 2,300 testimonials from refugees the public and even carry out research on and deportees. various pieces. • How to get there: Approximately 1 mile • How to get there: Around a 20-minute from the ship. walk from the ship. • Hours: 11am-6pm, daily. • Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-6pm. • Cost: Admission by donation. Guided tours • Cost: Approximately $10 USD per person. are available for $11 USD per tour. Day 8 Riga • Optional Latvian Open-Air • Listen to a Riga Cathedral Organ Concert: Experience a unique performance by choirs Museum tour and organ players in a more than 800-year- • Destination: Riga old cathedral, and see one of the biggest • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner organs in the world, containing over 6,000 • Accommodations: M/V Clio or M/V Corinthian pipes. Considered the largest medieval church Breakfast: From 7am-8:30am onboard, with in the Baltic states, the cathedral currently international and American options available. operates as both a Lutheran place of worship, as well as museum. During Soviet occupation Morning: After breakfast at around 8:30am, a from 1939-1989, religious services were local will come onboard to provide a first-hand prohibited, and it was solely utilized as a perspective on Latvia’s rich history. As an concert hall. Concerts range from 20 minutes eye-witness to the KGB repression in Latvia, to 1 hour in length. this local expert will paint a picture of the • How to get there: Around a 20-minute country’s tumultuous past, how the strife for walk from the ship. Baltic Independence has affected its people, • Hours: Hours of operation may vary and the marks of a communist regime that still depending on the day of the week—your remain today. Trip Experience Leader will provide more From around 9:30am onward, take some information upon request. time to explore Riga at your own pace. You • Cost: Approximately between $12 USD-$23 might return to one of the sites visited on your USD per person. motorcoach tour, join your Trip Experience • Witness the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Leader for a walk through the city and Riga Art Nouveau Museum: Containing conversation on locally-made products, or collections of Art Nouveau artifacts made delve into the region’s history as you explore and used in Riga, this museum celebrates sites like St. Peter’s Cathedral. You may the city’s unique architecture and is the only also want to immerse yourself in the city’s museum to focus on the Art Nouveau period artistic culture and build upon yesterday’s in all of the Baltics. The centerpiece of the discoveries at the museum of Art Nouveau, museum, which was once the lavish home of located in the former apartment of Latvian architect Konstantns Pēkšēns, is a series of architect Konstantins Peksens. Or, explore rooms designed to portray a typical, upscale other renowned museums like the Holocaust residence during the early 20th century, com- Museum, where you’ll discover the tragedies plete with art, furnishings, and even clothing. of World War II and its impact on life in Latvia. The aim of these displays is to preserve this You can also witness one of Latvia’s hidden

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22 gems during a train ride to Jurmala—a seaside Medieval Tallinn is home to several towered town with miles of sandy beaches—alongside gates, all bastion-forts complete with moats your Trip Experience Leader. and drawbridges.

Or, join us for our optional half-day excursion Dinner: Served around 7pm onboard in the to the Latvian Open-Air Museum, located on ship’s dining room. the banks of Riga’s Lake Jugla. Around 9:30am, Evening: You have the freedom to spend the we’ll depart the ship for the approximate rest of your evening as you wish. Perhaps half-hour drive to one of the oldest and largest you’ll enjoy a nightcap at the bar or relax in open-air museums in all of Europe. Upon the lounge. arrival at around 10am, we’ll meet with a local guide who will take us on a leisurely 90-minute stroll as we catch a glimpse of what life was Day 9 Explore Tallinn, Estonia like for farmers, craftsmen, and fishermen. • Destination: Tallinn Over 100 historical buildings dating from the • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 17th century all the way to the 1930s serve as • Accommodations: M/V Clio or M/V Corinthian snapshots of daily life for people in Riga. You’ll learn how these people made their living, Breakfast: From 7am-8:30am onboard, with including viewing traditional tools of the time international and American options available. period. Cap off your discoveries at a traditional Morning: From around 8:30am-9:30am, wooden Latvian church, originaly built in the we’ll view a documentary onboard about the 18th century. Baltic Singing Revolution that occurred from Then, at around 1:45pm, enjoy about 45 1987-1991. In 1987, the Soviet government minutes of free time in the surrounding area revealed plans to establish phosphorite mines before returning to the ship around 3pm. in the Virumaa region, causing concern among locals regarding the environmental impact of Lunch: You can enjoy an included lunch such a large endeavor. Unbeknownst to the onboard the ship around 1:30pm, or grab Russian government, this decision was the lunch on your own in Riga during your day of catalyst for Estonia’s fight for independence. In independent exploration. Travelers who choose response to the mining plans, Estonians began to go on the optional tour will have lunch at expressing their resistance in an unusual way: a local tavern around noon, complete with through singing. Tallinn’s Old Town Festival in traditional music and folk dancing. 1988 saw the joining of hundreds of Estonians together in patriotic song. At music events and Afternoon: Rejoin your fellow travelers who festivals thereafter, locals banded together to discovered Riga on their own around 3:30pm sing the same songs as their act of defiance. onboard to set sail for Tallinn as you enjoy free This sense of unity inspired the peaceful time to relax. protests that followed, including the Baltic Way Sit down with your Trip Experience Leader in 1989: a nearly 420-mile long human chain around 6:30pm for a Port Talk on Tallinn, a made of about two million residents of Estonia, wonderfully preserved city of the old Hanseatic Latvia, and Lithuania. The country declared League. This ancient walled port on the Baltic independence on August 22, 1991. Sea is a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with remarkable fortresses, castles, and cathedrals.

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23 After docking in Tallinn, we’ll board the 13th-century landmarks still stand: Toompea motorcoach around 10am for a short Castle (now the meeting place for the Estonian drive through the city’s Kadriorg district, Parliament) and the Dome Church (Estonia’s which is filled with 19th-century wooden largest Lutheran sanctuary). Many of the city’s buildings—many of which are still privately historic buildings reflect the prosperity it owned, while others are now museums and enjoyed between the 14th and 16th centuries. boutiques. Under German control, Tallinn flourished during these years as a trade port in the Next, we’ll step into the recent past when Hanseatic League. Later periods of Swedish and we arrive at the Song Festival Grounds: the Russian rule also left their marks on Tallinn, stage where the aforementioned historic whose rich layers of history you’ll delve into musical demonstration took place. We’ll during your tour. meet with a local guide to discuss the details of the revolution and the choral traditions of Lunch: You may choose to return from your Estonia, including a conversation about the tour for a 1pm buffet-style lunch onboard, or “five patriotic songs” series sung at the Old you can stay in town and have lunch on your Town Festival, produced by composer Alo own. You may want to try a taste of Estonia’s Mattiisen in 1988. national fish—the Baltic herring—and enjoy a cold glass of locally-made beer or a cocktail, Around 10:30am, we’ll reboard the motorcoach such as Saku or Le Coq. and set off to Old Town, about a 25-minute drive. On our way, we’ll catch a glimpse of sites Afternoon: Those who returned to the ship like the Rotterman Quarter, a time capsule for lunch will have the option to head back to of the city’s industrial period nestled among town on a 15-minute shuttle bus ride around modern buildings in the city center. We’ll also 2pm for some free time. You may want to visit a see the sprawling campus of Tallinn University, local marzipan shop, witness the Sweater Wall, considered one of the top research universities climb the tower of St. Olav’s Church to take in in the world. We’ll also discover the district the views, or hike approximately one mile to of Viru, which features a quite literal gateway the observation platform in the upper part of to Old Town Tallinn: the towering stone gates town. You also have the option to join your Trip originally built in the 1300s to protect the city Experience Leader around 2:15pm for a walk to now greet visitors as they enter Old Town and discover Old Town’s hidden streets. Here you’ll the many shops and restaurants within. find artisan workshops featuring local artists honing their craft in textiles, ceramics, and Once we arrive in Old Town around 11:15am, much more. You might take the opportunity we’ll set off on a walking tour. Within the city’s to talk to the local artists about the intricate ancient gated walls, the streets remain much as processes involved in the work or about daily they were when Danish rulers built them in the life in Tallinn. 13th century. The historic city center is divided into the Lower Town and the Upper Town. Shuttle buses will run back to the ship between 3:15pm and 4pm in time to set sail for St. In the Lower Town, the 600-year-old Town Petersburg around 5pm. Rejoin your fellow Hall—the best-preserved of its kind in travelers and Trip Experience leader for a Port northern Europe—presides dramatically Talk on this historic city. over Town Hall Square (Raejoka plats). The Upper Town is on Toompea Hill, where two

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24 Dinner: Served from 7pm-8:30pm onboard in minutes. Then, around 9:45am, we’ll depart the ship’s dining room. for a 15-minute drive via private motorcoach to a local cultural center in downtown St. Evening: You have the freedom to spend the Petersburg, a historic building that will serve rest of your evening as you wish. Perhaps as the backdrop for the Controversial Topic of you’ll enjoy a nightcap at the bar or relax in Russia’s political climate and the ever-growing the lounge. threat to freedom. We will split into even smaller groups of no more than 25 travelers, Day 10 Explore St. Petersburg, Russia • before being joined by two local experts (for Controversial Topic: Growing threats to their own protection, we are not at liberty to freedom in Russia • Optional Nikolayevsky disclose their names), who will each lead the Palace Folk Show tour conversation for one of our groups.

• Destination: St. Petersburg One of our speakers is a former member of St. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Petersburg’s mayoral office. After eight years • Accommodations: M/V Clio or M/V Corinthian employed in this governmental capacity, she made the intentional decision to leave for a Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: This afternoon, we’ll position with the Higher School of Economics gather to discuss the Controversial Topic of in St. Petersburg—the most liberal educational Russia’s shifting political climate with two institution in Russia, and as such, one that is local experts. This conversation will examine frequently at odds with the powers that be. She the growing threats to freedom in the country proudly asserts that this career change was to and how local people are being impacted. promote the democratic values she holds dear We’ll have the unique opportunity to see this by educating new generations of Russians. Still, issue through the eyes of Russian citizens who aligning oneself with an institution often at have personally been affected by the policies the center of government-fueled propaganda of Putin’s regime. Read more about this can come at a price. For instance, in September conversation below. 2020, twenty professors were abruptly fired Activity Note: Upon disembarkation in St. from the school over their “controversial” Petersburg, you will go through passport political beliefs—controversial according to control, a process which takes about 45 Putin’s administration, to be clear. This is just minutes. A Russian immigration official will one example of what many believe are alarming stamp your passport and issue you a shore pass indications that the political climate in Russia is that you will keep with you for the duration of changing rapidly for the worse. your visit. The other speaker we’ll talk to is also an In addition, the tour of the Hermitage Museum opposition activist and employee with the is about 2 hours long and the total walking European University of St. Petersburg, one of distance is approximately 5 miles. the most renowned and progressive private educational institutions in the city. Like the Breakfast: From 7:30am-9am onboard, with Higher School of Economics, it has also found international and American options available. itself in hot water with the government time Morning: Following breakfast, we’ll disembark and time again—even to the point of almost the ship around 9am and go through passport being stripped of an educational entity license control, a process which takes about 45 in 2016 as retribution for pushing back on

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25 “government oversight.” Fortunately, a Russians along with the rest of the free world. petition sent on behalf of the university Voters were only able to select “Yes” or “No” president put a halt to this particular threat, but one time, an answer that was applied to all it did not stop subsequent intimidation tactics 206 amendments. So, although they passed and attempts at censorship. While receiving his with 78% of voter support, this number by no education in political science, this speaker lived means reflects the true feelings and nuanced and worked abroad for several years, but chose beliefs of the people. Furthermore, critics and to return to his homeland in order to educate activists maintain that this voting procedure future generations. was employed purely to ensure the passing of the presidential term limit extension. If Putin While freedom of speech and the press are—in indeed remains in power for an additional two theory—both part of the Russian constitution, terms, he will do so until 2036—longer than Putin’s regime maintains control over its ruthless dictator Josef Stalin, former leader of citizens’ liberties by selectively implementing the Soviet Union who reigned for more than restrictions that align with government two decades. interests, like censoring TV and other media outlets. Since Vladimir Putin came to power in During our hour-long interactive conversation, 2000, it is estimated that 21 journalists have the speakers will share their views on this latest been killed for speaking out against his policies, election and how much freedom they believe forcing the press to practice self-censorship for truly exists in Russia. According to the latest fear of persecution by the new KGB. surveys, less than 30% of Russians believe that there is freedom of speech in the country and This pattern of restricting information is 65% believe that more independent sources a holdover from Soviet times; however, should be available to the public. Part of our developments in recent years suggest a conversation will also include 40 minutes to movement to further oppress civil liberties. ask these local experts any questions you might The most recent vote in Russia, held in January have. Perhaps you’ll ask what it’s like to live 2020, was a motion to push through 206 amidst such political uncertainty or what they amendments to the constitution, which marked believe the future holds for Russia. the second time such substantial revisions were made—the last instance being in 1993. These Around 11:15am, we’ll board our motorcoach amendments included extending presidential for a 15-minute drive to St. Isaac’s Cathedral term limits, allowing the president to fire for a brief guided tour. The largest church in federal judges, banning gay marriage, and the city, it was originally built to serve as the limiting the right to freedom of expression main church of the Russian Empire. The dome surrounding Russian history—to name a few. of the cathedral, which dominates the city’s All constitutional revisions were approved on skyline, is gilded with more than 200 pounds of July 1, 2020 by contested popular vote, signed gold, and the interior is elaborately decorated into law by executive order on July 3, and put with mosaics, icons, malachite, and lapis lazuli. into effect the next day. This grand church can seat 14,000 worshipers. Although the church was closed after the 1917 Besides the overtly controversial nature of Revolution, it reopened as a museum in 1931, the amendments themselves, the process of and services for worshipers resumed in 1990. this referendum—which mirrors Soviet-era voting practices—is highly contested among

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26 At around noon, we’ll continue our discoveries After your guided tour ends around 3:30pm, with a 30-minute panoramic tour of the city you’ll have about 30 minutes to explore aboard our private motorcoach. Founded as the the museum at leisure. It’s been said that new capital of the Russian Empire more than viewing every piece for at least a minute at 300 years ago, St. Petersburg was the vision the Hermitage Museum would take eleven and creation of Tsar Peter I, who named it after years! See for yourself some of the exhibits his patron saint. This beautiful showcase of a that pertain to your interests, from prehistoric city, covering 150 square miles, is a synthesis Siberian art to post-impressionist pieces. of both European and Russian styles, with Around 4pm, we’ll drive 30 minutes back to the elements of East and West. Pushkin called this ship and go through passport control at about city “Peter the Great’s Window to the West.” 4:30pm. Upon arrival at the ship, you’ll have With more than 40 islands, 60-plus canals, free time onboard from about 4:45pm-5:30pm. and hundreds of lovely bridges, St. Petersburg is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Dinner: Served onboard in the ship’s dining the world. As we drive, you’ll see St. Petersburg room from 5:30pm-7pm. University and engage in a conversation with your Trip Experience Leader about education Evening: You have the freedom to spend the in Russia. We’ll also make a stop at the Spit rest of your evening as you wish. Perhaps of Vasilievsky Island (one of the city’s most you’ll enjoy a nightcap at the bar or relax in fascinating architectural achievements) and St. the lounge, or join your Trip Experience Leader Isaac’s Square. for a walk into a local neighborhood. You’ll walk for about 2.5 miles and explore residential Lunch: Around 12:30pm, we’ll pause from areas of St. Petersburg where you can mingle our tour and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, with locals. featuring regional specialties. You also might elect to join our optional Afternoon: Following our meal, we’ll depart excursion from around 6:15pm-9pm. The tour around 1:30pm for a 15-minute drive to the includes a folk show at Nikolayevsky Palace. Hermitage Museum, where we’ll enjoy a guided From ballet dancers to folktale reenactments, tour. Formerly known as the Winter Palace the Nikolayevsky Palace provides a glimpse into and home of the tsars, this institution is one Russian culture that spans centuries. During the of the largest museums in the world. Built by 90-minute performance, enjoy music, dancing, the Empress Elizabeth, daughter of Peter I, the and games in a 19th-century setting. We’ll head palace became part of the Hermitage in 1764 back to the ship around 8:45pm. when Catherine the Great began her private art collection. Today, more than 1,000 lavishly Day 11 St. Petersburg • Explore adorned rooms house nearly three million Peterhof Palace exhibits and displays representing some of the world’s greatest art from ancient Egypt • Destination: St. Petersburg to early 20th-century Europe. Your two-hour • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner tour, led by a local guide, will include a visit • Accommodations: M/V Clio or M/V Corinthian to the museum’s vast Western European art Activity Note: The drive to Peterhof Grand collection, as well as a peek into the Winter Palace is approximately 1.5 hours long by Palace’s elaborately decorated state rooms. motorcoach. The guided tour of the palace gardens is 1 hour and covers a total of 1.5 miles.

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27 Breakfast: From 7am-8:30am onboard, with free time before returning to the ship around international and American options available. 4:30pm (shuttle buses returning to the ship will be available as early as 4pm). During your Morning: Around 9:30am, we’ll board our independent discoveries, you may want to motorcoach for an approximate hour-long explore Art Square and visit one of its many drive to Peterhof. On the way, we’ll pass renowned museums, such as the Russian through neighborhoods and shops while Museum, which famously displays one of the your Trip Experience Leader discusses life in world’s largest collections of Russian art. The St. Petersburg, from the current real estate square is also surrounded by the beautifully market and privatization of property to modern ornate Maly Opera and Ballet Theater, everyday life compared to life under Soviet founded in 1833. repression. Around 6pm, the ship sets sail for your next Around 9:45am, we’ll arrive at Peterhof Palace destination—Helsinki. Gather with your Trip and begin our guided tour. This magnificent Experience Leader for a Port Talk on Finland’s summer residence of the Russian royalty is a southern capital city. UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 1714, Peter the Great asked for a “Versailles by the Sea.” Dinner: Served from 7pm-8:30pm onboard in The site evolved into a palace atop the hill the ship’s dining room. surrounded by a park. In addition to exploring Evening: You have the freedom to spend the the palace, you’ll also witness the Grand rest of your evening as you wish as we sail Cascade, an elaborate fountain ensemble made toward Finland. up of three waterfalls, nearly 150 fountains shooting more than 2,000 jets of water, and a myriad of statues and sculptures. Day 12 Explore Helsinki, Finland • Captain’s Farewell Dinner Around 11am, we’ll head outside to the palace’s • Destination: Helsinki lower gardens and fountains to continue our tour with a local expert, who will share the • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner history of gardens and the lavish palace. • Accommodations: M/V Clio or M/V Corinthian Breakfast: From 7:30am-9am onboard, with Lunch: Around 12pm, we’ll drive to a local international and American options available. restaurant for lunch, arriving at around 12:15pm. A host of regional options will be Morning: Our ship’s small size allows us to available to choose from. dock in the heart of Helsinki. At around 9am, we’ll board a motorcoach and set off on an Afternoon: Around 1:15pm, we’ll board the included tour. As we wind our way through the motorcoach to return to the ship. Travelers city, we’ll notice how the sea is an integral part who choose to return to the ship will have free of Helsinki—the city spreads out onto islands, time onboard to relax before sailing to the next peninsulas, and along coves among which boats destination. of all types navigate. You may also choose to join your Trip First, we’ll stop at the Sibelius Monument, a Experience Leader on the subway home as an statue made of hundreds of metal pipes that alternative to the motorcoach for a taste of commemorates the renowned composer Jean everyday life in the city. You can also choose Sibelius, for a photo opportunity. Since it was to ride the subway to the city center for some

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28 first built in the 1960s, the monument has Lunch: Served buffet-style between sparked debate among music lovers; the pipes 12:30pm-2pm onboard, with local and seem to resemble those of an organ despite international options available. Travelers Sibelius writing little to no pieces for the organ who chose to stay in the market can try local itself. Beyond the controversy, the Sibelius favorites like salmon soup with rye bread. Monument is a wonder to behold, capturing the Afternoon: Around 2pm, you’re free to make highs and lows of Sibelius’ intricate musical your own discoveries. Perhaps you’ll take a compositions in a single structure. stroll through Helsinki’s design district with Next, around 10am, we’ll drive to the new your Trip Experience Leader. Located in the Oodi public library, known as the “living room center of the city, the area is home to the works of the city.” Upon arrival at around 10:30am, of Helsinki’s most creative minds, featuring an we’ll explore this uniquely designed building array of art galleries, antique shops, fashion for about 30 minutes. Oodi not only serves as stores, and showrooms. You may also want to a library, but as a meeting place for Helsinki return to Market Square to mingle with local residents. Take time to observe local life vendors and snack on staples like smoked fish happening around you as you make your way and fresh berries. Return to the ship by 4:30pm. through the building. At around 5pm, the ship will set sail to At around 11am, we’ll head back to the bus Stockholm. As we sail, you can enjoy some free to drive the approximate half mile to Senate time to relax after your day of discoveries. Then Square, arriving at around 11:30am for a join your fellow travelers and Trip Experience brief stop. Here, we’ll discover many ornate Leader for a Captain’s Farewell Drink around Empire Neo-classical buildings, including 6pm. Your Trip Experience Leader will also say the 19th-century Lutheran Cathedral, whose a few words about the experience and toast to central tower dominates the city. Like Times a successful journey. As they say in Sweden, Square in New York City, this is the place where “Skål!” (“Cheers!”). residents gather to celebrate special occasions, Dinner: Between 7pm-9pm, enjoy the such as New Year’s Eve and Independence Day Captain’s Farewell Dinner onboard in the ship’s (December 6th). dining room. While the dress code at mealtimes We’ll wrap up our tour in Helsinki’s Market is always relaxed and smart casual, some Square in the city center at around 11:45am. A travelers opt to wear a day dress or slacks for lively area full of boutique and souvenir shops, the Farewell Dinner. vendors selling fresh produce and traditional Evening: You have the freedom to spend the Finnish fare, and colorful stands displaying rest of your evening as you wish. Perhaps artisan crafts, Market Square is perhaps the you’ll enjoy a nightcap at the bar or relax in the best way to immerse yourself in the sights and lounge as we set sail for Stockholm, Sweden. sounds of the city. We’ll take about a 30-minute walk through the market, complete with our Trip Experience Leader’s firsthand insight on the best stalls with crafts to buy or food to sample.

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29 Day 13 Disembark ship • Explore Following your explorations of City Hall, take Stockholm, Sweden some time for quick souvenir shopping before we head to lunch. • Destination: Stockholm • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Lunch: Included at a restaurant in City Hall, • Accommodations: Grand Central by Scandic complete with a host of regional options. or similar Afternoon: After lunch, we resume our tour Activity Note: The walking tour of Gamla Stan and set off to Gamla Stan by motorcoach, is approximately 1 mile on cobblestone streets, Stockholm’s Old Town nestled at the heart of requiring good balance. this great city. We’ll arrive at around 2:45pm for an approximate 45-minute walking tour Breakfast: From 7:30am-9am onboard, with through the labyrinth of cobbled streets. While international and American options available. the mighty Royal Palace dominates much of Morning: After packing up and leaving the Gamla Stan, there’s still so much more to your cabin, you’ll gather with your Trip do and see. The picturesque isle is a labyrinth Experience Leader around 9am for a Port Talk of narrow alleyways and staircases, home on Stockholm prior to your discoveries. From to antique shops, museums, statues, and around 9:30am to 11am, you’ll enjoy scenic churches. sailing as we cruise toward Stockholm. The sun The Stortorget (the “Big Square”), is the deck is a great spot to soak in the vistas as we city’s oldest square and site of the infamous approach the city. Stockholm Bloodbath. Denmark—under the Upon docking around 11am, we’ll bid goodbye rule of King Christian II—invaded Sweden in to the ship and the crew as we disembark the 1520 and took the country for its own. Shortly ship for a city tour of Stockholm. Sweden’s thereafter, Christian rounded up all those who capital city, an archipelago within an had challenged his rule and on November 8 and archipelago,occupies a cluster of 14 islands 9, he executed more than 80 Swedish nobles in floating among 24,000 that make up a the Big Square. According to legend, rivers of 60-mile chain. blood rushed through the streets. Today, the Stortorget is a brightly-colored square, home to Our tour begins at around 11:30am when a handful of cafés, the Stock Exchange, and an we arrive by motorcoach at Stadshuset, the annual Christmas market. romantic City Hall building famous for hosting the annual Nobel Prize banquet, which your Around 3:30pm, you’ll have free time to explore Trip Experience Leader will discuss in detail as the ancient city on your own. Experience the your explore. Designed in 1923, City Hall was gilded 15th-century sculpture of St. George at constructed using eight million red bricks and the Storkyrkan Church, or visit the Nobel Prize 19 million chips of gilt mosaic. The Stadshuset Museum to learn about the most prestigious is not just the city’s seat of government, but award in the world, the world-changing ideas is also a national symbol, as the building’s that have earned the prize, and its founder 300-foot tower, topped with three golden Alfred Nobel. Or, you can take this time to crowns that represent Sweden’s coat of arms, relax and grab a seat at a local cafe to observe will attest. everyday life, or peruse the shops for a last-minute souvenir.

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30 Around 4:30pm, we’ll transfer to our hotel by Evening: You have the freedom to spend the motorcoach and settle in. Depending on where rest of your evening as you wish. You may want we stay, your hotel may feature a restaurant, to rest for your flight tomorrow. bar, and gym; and each room will include a safe, a television, complimentary Internet Day 14 Stockholm • Return to U.S. access, hair dryer, and private bath. The rest of • Included Meals: Breakfast the afternoon is yours to lounge in the hotel or continue your explorations of Stockholm. Your Breakfast: At the hotel, with international Trip Experience Leader will be at the hotel’s options available. Breakfast is served hospitality desk between 5:30pm-6:30pm to throughout the morning to accommodate provide assistance with your boarding pass for individual flight times. your flight home. Morning: Begin your one-hour transfer to Dinner: From 7pm-9pm at your hotel, you’ll the airport for your flight home (flight time enjoy another Farewell Dinner with your travel determines your departure time from the companions and Trip Experience Leader. While hotel), or continue on our Stockholm, Sweden the dress code at mealtimes is always relaxed post-trip extension. and smart casual, some travelers opt to wear a day dress or slacks for the Farewell Dinner.

END YOUR ADVENTURE WITH AN OPTIONAL POST-TRIP EXTENSION 3 nights in Stockholm, Sweden

Day 1 Explore Stockholm, Sweden Day 3 Stockholm Day 2 Stockholm • Optional Vasa Museum Day 4 Stockholm • Return to U.S. & Skansen tour

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31 OPTIONAL TOURS

During your trip you will be able to book optional tours directly with your Trip Experience Leader. He or she will ask you to confirm the payment for these tours by filling out a payment form. Optional tours can only be purchased with a credit or debit card. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover credit cards. We also accept Visa and MasterCard debit cards, but it must be a debit card that allows you to sign for purchases.

In order to correctly process these charges, there can be a delay of 2-3 months from the date of your return for the charges to be posted to your account. Therefore we ask that you use a card that will not expire in the 2-3 months following your return.

Please note: Optional tour prices are listed in U.S. dollar estimates determined at the time of publication and are subject to change. Optional tours may vary.

Latvian Open-Air Museum (Day 8 $115 per person)

Discover one of the oldest and largest open-air museums in all of Europe, located on the banks of Riga’s Lake Jugla. On this excursion, you’ll walk through some of the beautifully preserved 17th-century Latvian buildings—of which there are over 100—and get a glimpse of what daily life was like for farmers, craftsmen, and fishermen at the time. Cap off your day here with an included lunch at a local Latvian tavern, where you’ll get the chance to meet locals and hear traditional folk music.

Nikolayevsky Palace Folk Show (Day 10 $90 per person)

Constructed for Duke Nikolay in the mid-1800s, the ornately classical Nikolayevsky Palace now serves to welcome visitors to St. Petersburg. The folk show, performed in the palace theater, is a riveting mix of traditional song and dance from across Russia, topped off by captivating demonstrations of local musical instruments and games.

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32 PRE-TRIP Copenhagen, Denmark

INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE

» Accommodations for 3 nights at the » Services of our local Trip Experience Leader Copenhagen Admiral Hotel or similar » Gratuities for local guides and » 5 meals: 3 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 1 dinner motorcoach drivers » Copenhagen Card for transit and » All transfers museum access

PRE-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY

Native son Hans Christian Andersen rendered Danish life as a fairy tale ... something you can witness yourself as you revel in a three-night stay in Denmark’s capital city. Explore Kobenhavn—and the surrounding area—and discover vibrant architecture, seaside castles, and a unique culture unlike anything you’ve experienced before.

Day 1 Depart U.S. Typical rooms include a minibar, safe, air conditioning, wireless Internet, and a private Depart the U.S. today on your flight to en suite bathroom. Copenhagen, Denmark. Please refer to your personal air itinerary for exact departure and Then, enjoy a walk (less than one mile) around arrival times. the vicinity of your hotel with your Trip Experience Leader to introduce you to the area Day 2 Copenhagen, Denmark in which you’ll be staying. As you walk, witness sites like Amalienborg Palace where the royal • Destination: Copenhagen family resides, the Maersk Opera House, and • Accommodations: Copenhagen Admiral Denmark’s recycling plant that doubles as a Hotel or similar ski slope. You’ll also engage in discussions Afternoon: Upon your arrival in Copenhagen, with your Trip Experience Leader and fellow you’ll be met at the airport and assisted to your travelers regarding the country’s green energy hotel. The world’s oldest capital city is also movement. among the most welcoming in Scandinavia. The The rest of the afternoon is yours to do as your Danes are known for being more extroverted please. Perhaps you’ll explore Nyhavn, the than their neighbors, as you’ll experience iconic 17th-century waterfront district for a during your stay here. drink and people watching. We will stay for three nights in a Dinner: You’re free to explore Copenhagen’s centrally-located hotel. You’ll receive your local restaurants tonight. For a quick bite, you room assignments and check in around 2pm. can stop by one of the many sausage stands for

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33 a traditional rod polse (red sausage). Frikadeller • Explore the Carlsberg Glyptotek: Discover is another popular Danish dish consisting of this museum dedicated to the artistic collec- meatballs fried in butter, and are often served tion of Carl Jacobsen—the son of Carlsberg with boiled potatoes. Breweries founder—including his antique sculptures with influences from several Evening: You are free to return to your room ancient Mediterranean cultures, such as to rest after your overseas flight, or you may Rome, Greece, and Egypt. Originally displayed venture out to experience Copenhagen’s lively in the garden of Jacobsen’s private villa, his clubs and cafes—ask your Trip Experience collection grew so much that an entire mu- Leader for recommendations. Your hotel is also seum space was necessary to accommodate located within walking distance of theaters, all the pieces. In addition to the sculptures, shops, the famous Little Mermaid statue, and which are the focal point of the museum, art the impressive Gefion Fountain. lovers will also appreciate a large collection Freedom To Explore: During your four days in of paintings from French impressionists, Copenhagen, you have the freedom to explore post-impressionists, and the Danish Golden this vibrant city on your own during your free Age—with works by Monet, Degas, Jacques- time. Below are a few recommended options for Louis David, van Gogh, and Bonnard. Visitors independent explorations: usually spend two to three hours here and end their tour by unwinding in the winter garden. • Stroll through the city’s colorful Botanical • How to get there: About a 45 minute walk Garden: Located in the heart of Copenhagen, or 20 minute taxi ride from the hotel. this garden famously features the largest • Hours: 11am-6pm, Tuesday-Sunday; collection of living plants in the world, 11am-9pm, Thursday. covering more than 10 hectares with complex • Cost: About $18 USD per person. glasshouses dating back to 1874. The garden serves as both a recreational space and a place • Delve into the world of 18th-century for research as it is part of the University of European art at the David Collection muse- Copenhagen Faculty of Science. There are um: Peruse the notable art collections once more than 13,000 species housed in the gar- owned by C. L. David, a prominent lawyer den, which are all arranged for easy viewing. in Denmark, which include masterpieces Visitors will find 600 species of Danish plants, from the 8th to the mid-19th centuries. This 1,100 species of perennial plants, 1,100 species private collection is displayed in what was of annual plants, and rock gardens including David’s home and since his death in 1960, the plants from mountainous areas in Central and museum has continuously acquired new piec- Southern Europe and Conifer Hill. The garden es. The three main permanent collections are is perfect for those wishing to escape the the Collection of Islamic Art, the Collection bustling city and enjoy a peaceful afternoon of European 18th-Century Art (which is now surrounded by nature. complete), and the Collection of Danish Early Modern Art. The Islamic Art Collection is the • How to get there: Approximately an hour most well-known and features pieces from walk or 20-25 minute taxi ride from the an expansive area that spans from Spain to hotel. China (west to east) and Uzbekistan to Yemen • Hours: 8:30am-6pm, daily. (north to south). From furniture to silverware • Cost: About $9 USD per person.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

34 to paintings, discover “the most exclusive You’ll have from around 11am-12:30pm to museum in Denmark,” as described by a discover the Nyhavn (New Harbor) district on Danish newspaper. your own. Bars, cafes, and restaurants line • How to get there: Approximately a 25 the 17th-century waterway, and dozens of minute walk from the hotel. vividly-painted 300-year-old houses add to the • Hours: 10am-5pm, Tuesday-Sunday; lively feel of this district. Perhaps you’ll relax 10am-9pm, Wednesday. at one of the many cafes along the harbor and • Cost: Free. soak in everyday life. Lunch: Around 12:30pm, lunch is at a local Day 3 Explore Copenhagen restaurant. • Destination: Copenhagen Afternoon: Free for your own • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch discoveries—ask your Trip Experience Leader • Accommodations: Copenhagen Admiral for recommendations. Perhaps you’ll explore Hotel or similar the 17th-century Rosenborg Castle where Breakfast: From 6:30am-8:45am at your hotel, you’ll find the Crown Jewels and famous with international options available. artwork, such as the portrait of Queen Caroline Mathilde from 1771. You may also want to Morning: After breakfast, join your Trip explore one of the city’s prized museums, Experience Leader and fellow travelers for a including the National History Museum and the Welcome Briefing and personal introductions. Louisiana Museum. During your briefing, we will introduce ourselves and review our itinerary in more Or, consider a stroll through historic Kongens detail (including any changes that may need Nytorv (King’s New Square), which was laid out to occur). Your Trip Experience Leader will by Christian V in 1670 in an effort to expand also discuss logistics, safety and emergency the fortified city. The equestrian statue erected procedures, and answer questions you of him sits in the center of the square and is may have. surrounded by prominent institutions, such as the Royal Theatre. Around 9am, you’ll receive a personal Copenhagen Card from your Trip Experience Dinner: On your own. Whether you want rustic Leader at the hotel’s hospitality desk. Your card traditional seafood or high-end “New Nordic” allows you entry to 75 of the city’s attractions cuisine (in which Danish staples like elderberry, and free transportation on the bus, metro, herring, and salmon are infused with modern and train lines, and will be your passport techniques and ingredients from around the to exploring the city on your own over the world) Copenhagen boasts more than 2,000 next three days, allowing you to follow your restaurant and café options to satisfy all interests to the activities and destinations that preferences. most appeal to you. Evening: After arriving back at your hotel Around 10am, you’ll embark on a tour of around 8:45pm, you may continue making Copenhagen’s winding canals with panoramas independent discoveries or rest up for the day of the harbor, ancient castles, and colorful of exploration ahead. rowhouses.

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35 Day 4 Explore Copenhagen of Art & Design, visit the stately Amalienborg Palace, or discover an impressive ethnographic • Destination: Copenhagen collection at the National Museum. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner • Accommodations: Copenhagen Admiral Dinner: Walk about 15 minutes to a local Hotel or similar restaurant, where we’ll enjoy a Welcome Dinner from 6:30pm-8:30pm. While the dress code at Breakfast: From 6:30am-9am at your hotel, mealtimes is always relaxed and smart casual, with international options available. some travelers opt to wear a day dress or slacks Morning: Around 9:30am, we’ll depart the for the Welcome Dinner. hotel and embark on a short walk to a nearby Evening: You’ll return to the hotel around bus stop. We’ll begin our journey by public bus 8:30pm. You can choose to walk (about 30 around 10am using our Copenhagen Card to minutes) or take the local bus we arrived on. Dragor and Store Magleby on the southeast Rest up for tomorrow’s adventures or continue coast of Amager (the island that also contains exploring on your own. If you choose the latter, part of the Danish capital city). you may want to relax at one of the city’s bars We’ll arrive around 10:45am, when we’ll set off or cafes for a nightcap. on a tour of the area. Home to thatched-roof houses and bobbing fishing boats, these two Day 5 Explore Copenhagen • adjacent villages present a stark contrast Join main trip to contemporary Copenhagen. Your Trip • Destination: Copenhagen Experience Leader will delve into the history • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch of the region with a discussion on World War II and how it shaped the community. • Accommodations: Copenhagen Admiral Hotel or similar From around 11:15am-12:15pm, you’ll have free Breakfast: From 6:30am-9:30am at the hotel, time to explore the villages at your own pace. with international options available. Perhaps you’ll peruse the quaint shops or take a stroll and soak in the seaside views. Morning: Around 9:30am, you’ll join your Trip Experience Leader for a walking tour of We’ll return to the bus stop (about a 5-minute the city. You’ll witness some of Copenhagen’s walk) and take the bus back to Copenhagen most famous gems, such as the King’s Square, around 12:30pm. the Old Royal Theatre, Stroget, and Du Nord Lunch: On your own. Your Trip Experience shopping center—many of which you’ll explore Leader would be happy to provide suggestions further on the main trip. for local fare or a taste of home. We’ll walk to Nyhavn around 11am where Afternoon: Upon returning to the hotel you can see any of the sites you haven’t had a around 3pm, you’ll have the afternoon to chance to explore yet, such as the Royal Palace explore Copenhagen on your own. Now is the of Amalienborg, the National History Museum, perfect time to try one of the recommended and the city’s colorful botanical gardens. activities—explore the world’s largest collection of Danish art at the Danish Museum

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36 Lunch: Around 12:30pm, you have the choice to have lunch on your own, or join your Trip Experience Leader for an included lunch in Nyhavn where you’ll dine on a menu of traditional Danish food.

Afternoon: Starting around 1:30pm, you’ll have the rest of the afternoon at your leisure. Rest up for your main trip, or continue your explorations of Copenhagen. Perhaps you want to discover sites like the rococo-style Frederik’s Church, famously known as the Marble Church.

Around 5pm, you’ll join your fellow travelers, and begin the activities described on Day 2 of the main itinerary.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

37 POST-TRIP Stockholm, Sweden

INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE

» Accommodations for 3 nights at the Grand » Services of our local Trip Experience Leader Central by Scandic or similar » Gratuities for local guides and » 6 meals: 4 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 1 dinner motorcoach drivers » Guided tour with personal headsets: » All transfers Royal Palace

POST-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY

Both the modern and the antique blend harmoniously together in Sweden’s capital city, built atop an archipelago bound together by a string of stunning bridges. Journey here and witness Old World beauty mingled with cutting-edge design ... and discover a vibrant culture filled with regal palaces, modern art, and verdant parks.

Day 1 Explore Stockholm, Sweden Then you’ll walk to Kungliga Slottet (about a one-mile walk), Stockholm’s Royal Palace, • Destination: Stockholm with your Trip Experience Leader and enjoy free • Included Meals: Lunch time to explore from around 11am-12:30pm. • Accommodations: Grand Central by Scandic Located in the city’s Old Town, the Royal Palace or similar is the official residence of the Swedish Royal Morning: Around 9am, we’ll meet at the Family (although King Carl XVI Gustaf and his hospitality desk at the hotel for Royal Palace wife Queen Silvia live at the Drottningholm ticket distribution. We’ll then set off on a Palace on the island of Lovön). Following your discovery walk around 9:15am. After a short independent discoveries, we’ll walk (for about walk to Central Train Station, we’ll see sites like 15 minutes) to lunch. Wallenberg Memorial—a monument in honor Lunch: From around 12:45pm-1:45pm, we’ll of Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat who have lunch at a local restaurant for a taste saved the lives of thousands of Hungarian Jews of traditional Swedish cuisine made from during the Holocaust. locally-produced organic ingredients. You may also explore the Neoclassical facades Afternoon: Beginning around 2pm, of the city’s Parliament House, also known as the rest of the day is free for your own Christiansborg Palace, where you can venture discoveries—ask your Trip Experience Leader inside to witness a series of murals that tell the for recommendations. While the mighty story of Stockholm’s past. Royal Palace dominates much of the Gamla Stan (Stockholm’s Old Town, a small island

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

38 nestled at the heart of this great city), there’s Evening: The evening is free to make your own still so much more to do and see. The isle is a discoveries or relax at the hotel to prepare for labyrinth of narrow alleyways and staircases, the day of exploration ahead. Perhaps you’ll home to antique shops, museums, statues, and venture to a local cafe or bar and try Sweden’s churches. traditional brannvine (burn-wine).

The Hallwyl Museum is another unique site Freedom To Explore: During your time in that provides insight into the rich history of Stockholm, you have the freedom to experience Stockholm, and is often considered one of the one of Sweden’s most memorable cities on city’s most eccentric and engaging museums. your own during your free time. Below are a It’s located in the home of Count and Countess few recommended options for independent Walther and Wilhelmina von Hallwyl. This explorations: palatial residence was built as a winter home • Explore Södermalm Island: For an authentic for the immensely rich couple, built in 1898 by Swedish experience, cross the bridge over Sweden’s most renowned architect at the time, to Södermalm, one of the 14 islands that Isak Gustaf Clason. He used a combination make up the Swedish capital. Favored by of Venetian Late Gothic and Early Spanish Stockholm’s young and hip, this sprawling Renaissance design influences that are still residential island surrounded by Lake visually striking today. Mälaren teems with colorful homes, hipster Or, consider continuing your explorations of cafés, vintage shops, and trendy restau- Stortorget (the “Big Square”), the city’s oldest rants—in fact, Vogue magazine voted it square and site of the infamous Stockholm Europe’s “coolest” neighborhood. But there Bloodbath. Denmark—under the rule of King is more to the urban island of Södermalm Christian II—invaded Sweden in 1520 and took than its hipster vibe. Stroll along the cobbled the country for its own. Shortly thereafter, streets of Gamla Stan, the city’s historic Christian rounded up all those who had 16th-century heart, or go further afield to challenged his rule and on November 8 and 9, Djurgården, a lovely area with wide open he executed more than 80 Swedish nobles in green spaces and winding parkland trails. the Big Square. According to legend, rivers of • How to get there: Three subway stops blood rushed through the streets. Today, the away from the hotel. Stortorget is a brightly-colored square, home to • Hours: Open daily, recommended to visit a handful of cafés, the Stock Exchange, and an before sundown. annual Christmas market. • Cost: Free. Dinner: On your own tonight. Now is a • Enjoy a canal boat ride: Gain a new perspec- great time to discover Swedish culinary tive of the Stockholm archipelago from the favorites, from lingonberries and meatballs water, and take in the sights of historical to raggmunk—a Swedish potato pancake fried buildings, museums, and even a unique view in butter and often served with fried pork or of the Stockholm skyline. A variety of guided lingonberries. tour options are available, ranging from 50 minutes to 2.5 hours. Spend a relaxing after- noon on the water and witness the city from the comfort of your boat, which may include coffee, pastries, soft drinks, beer, and wine

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

39 for sale onboard. Tours depart regularly from island of Djurgarden. Or, grab a frosty beverage the Gamla Stan area—your Trip Experience at ICEBAR, the world’s first permanent ice bar Leader will help direct you. carved out of 40 tons of ice.

• How to get there: Approximately 0.5 miles Or, join us for an optional tour which begins from Gamla Stan with a funicular ride to Skansen, located at the • Hours: Ongoing, daily. top of Djurgarden, a wooded island at the center • Cost: From $21 USD per person. of Stockholm. • Discover Sweden’s largest exhibit of cultural We’ll depart around 8:30am for Skansen, history at the Nordic Museum: See displays the oldest continually-operating outdoor of local clothing, jewelry, furniture, toys, folk museum in the world, founded in 1891. A art, and more dating back to the 16th century 75-acre 19th-century village in which living for a rare look at Sweden. This museum also history performers demonstrate baking, features an exhibition on the indigenous Sami glass-blowing, leather tanning, shoemaking, people who inhabit Sweden and Finland, silversmithing, and more, Skansen immerses and who you will meet and share a meal visitors in a rural way of life its founder saw with during your main adventure. While disappearing as the 20th century approached. Scandinavia is flush with great art and classic artists, what sets the Nordic Museum apart After exploring Skansen with your Trip is its focus on the everyday life and stories of Experience Leader, you’ll take a funicular to the people who inhabit the Nordic region, both Vasa Museum around 12pm for a guided tour. past and present. Join a guided tour to hear In 1628, the Vasa, a fearsome warship with 72 these stories, everyday at 11am and 2pm. cannons and 300 soldiers, set off on a maiden • How to get there: Approximately 2 miles voyage two years in the making—and then sank from the hotel. in the harbor. Like the Titanic, the Vasa was an • Hours: 10am-5pm; closed Monday epic ship that became a symbol of tragedy—and • Cost: A ticket is around $13 USD. Sweden never forgot her. Hundreds of years later, in 1961, the Vasa was raised from the Day 2 Stockholm • Optional Vasa Museum seabed and returned to land. Today, restored & Skansen tour and preserved, still outfitted with its original masts, deadeyes and blocks, the Vasa is one • Destination: Stockholm of Stockholm’s most well-loved icons. In • Included Meals: Breakfast additional to a tour of the museum, you’ll also • Accommodations: Grand Central by Scandic enjoy a film viewing about Vasa. or similar Lunch: If you opted for an afternoon of free Breakfast: From 6:30am-10am at your hotel, time, you can continue exploring Stockholm’s with international options available. unique culinary scene. Glavad lox, or dill-cured Morning: Free for your own salmon, and bread topped with shrimp and discoveries—ask your Trip Experience Leader caviar called toast skagen are other local for recommendations. Perhaps you’ll explore favorites you may want to try. Lunch is included the luxurious Dottingham Palace, home to the at the Vasa Museum around 12:30pm for those Swedish royal family and a UNESCO World on the optional tour. Heritage Site, or discover the many gardens, parks, and mansion throughout the small

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

40 Afternoon: Those on the optional tour will Or, perhaps you want to visit the ABBA return to the hotel around 3:30pm, while Museum, dedicated to honoring the famous travelers who stayed back will continue their pop band with exhibits of the members’ gold explorations of Stockholm. records, costumes, and other memorabilia. There are also scenic boat rides that take Dinner: On your own tonight. Continue your passengers under Stockholm’s many beautiful culinary education of Swedish specialties, or bridges, including the Vasa and Norrbo bridges. enjoy some American comfort food at a familiar local restaurant like Stockholm’s Hard Rock Lunch: On your own—ask your Trip Experience Cafe, located nearby the hotel. Leader for local restaurant recommendations.

Evening: Enjoy a nightcap at the hotel bar, Afternoon: Free for your own or continue your explorations of Stockholm. discoveries—ask your Trip Experience Leader A short driving distance from the hotel is for recommendations. Perhaps indulge in Sodermalm district, often referred to as “the fika—a social institution in Sweden. Fika is a Brooklyn of Stockholm.” Here you’ll find cozy morning or afternoon coffee break enjoyed cafes and bars with live music for a true taste of among friends, family, or colleagues. In fact, local life in the city. more coffee is consumed in Sweden than anywhere else in the world. After your morning Day 3 Stockholm explorations, relax at a konditori (bakery) while savoring a hot cup of coffee and a kanelbulle • Destination: Stockholm (cinnamon bun). If you’re feeling extra • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner adventurous, try Sweden’s “egg coffee,” where • Accommodations: Grand Central by Scandic a raw egg is mixed into the coffee grounds or similar before it’s steeped in boiling water. Breakfast: From 6:30am-9am at your hotel, Around 6pm, we’ll depart on a motorcoach to a with international options available. local restaurant. Morning: Free for your own discoveries. If you Dinner: From around 7pm-8:30pm, we’ll want to continue exploring the city, your Trip enjoy a Farewell Dinner where you can reflect Experience Leader will walk over to the Central with your fellow travelers and Trip Experience Train Station around 9am. Along the way, ask Leader on your discoveries and toast to a your Trip Experience Leader for suggestions successful trip. for visiting the gems of Stockholm that best suit you. Evening: Around 8:30pm, we’ll drive back to the hotel and where you may enjoy a leisurely You might delve into the earliest roots of evening in preparation for your return Swedish culture at the National Historical to the U.S. Museum, whose collections span 10,000 years from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages. The museum features artifacts from the Viking era, centuries-old textiles, a Gothic collection, and a “Gold Room” housing 114 pounds of objects (not to mention almost 450 pounds of silver work).

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

41 Day 4 Stockholm • Return to U.S. Morning: Begin your hour-long transfer to the airport for your flight home. Your flight • Destination: Stockholm time will determine your departure time from • Included Meals: Breakfast the hotel. Breakfast: At the hotel, with international options available (served throughout the morning to accommodate individual flight times).

OPTIONAL TOUR

Skansen & Vasa Museum (Day 2 $165 per person) Your tour beings with a funicular ride to Skansen, the oldest continually-operating outdoor museum in the world. Here you’ll tour a 75-acre 19th-century village in which living history performers demonstrate baking, glass-blowing, leather tanning, shoemaking, silversmithing, and more, immersing yourself in a rural way of life that disappeared as the 20th century approached. Then continue on to the mighty Vasa Museum, dedicated to a historic 17th-century warship that is treasured as one of Stockholm’s most well-loved cultural legacies. Following an included lunch and guided tour here, you’ll enjoy time to absorb the exhibit at your own pace.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

42 YOUR M/V CLIO SMALL SHIP Explore aboard our privately owned, 89-passenger small ship

Cruise the world’s legendary waterways aboard our 89-passenger small ship, the M/V Clio, rated excellent by 96% of travelers. Built in 1998, the Clio was purchased and refurbished in 2016, prior to its first departure. The ship holds four groups of 20-25 travelers (with an average of 22), each with its own local Trip Experience Leader, dedicated to bringing culture to life in the Baltics, Portugal, Spain, the Red Sea, and beyond.

SHIPBOARD FEATURES • Two dining areas with single, open • Outdoor common areas: Relish coastal seating: Savor regionally-inspired dishes views from your seat in the indoor/ or American favorites during all buffets outdoor veranda, Sun Deck, or whirlpool on and table-service meals in the ship’s dining the Sky Deck. room or indoor/outdoor veranda. • English-speaking crew: Enjoy dedicated • Comfortable lounge: Relax with old attention from our international staff friends and new, and participate in onboard throughout your voyage. Plus, all shipboard discussions and lectures. announcements are made in English for • Complimentary beverages: Enjoy house your convenience. beer and house wine—as well as soft • Zodiac crafts & tenders: These onboard drinks—at any time of day while onboard. crafts are available to take you to shore in • Complimentary wireless Internet access: the most remote ports. Connect online in cabins and common areas. • Elevator service: An elevator serves the Please note: Connectivity may be limited at first four passenger decks (must use stairs to certain points throughout your cruise. access the Sky Deck).

43 M/V CLIO

CABIN CATEGORIES VS Cabin with balcony – Whirlpool 205 sq. ft. A Cabin with window – Sky Deck 194 sq. ft. Cabin with window – B 194 sq. ft. C Cabin with window – Massage 194 sq. ft. 508 506 504 502 ELV Bar Bridge D Cabin with window – 509 507 505 503 501 194 sq. ft. Cabin with window – E 194 sq. ft. Sun Deck Single cabin with window – S 161 sq. ft.

418 416 414 412 410 408 406 404 402 The Veranda ELV Restaurant Registry: Malta

419 417 415 413 411 409 407 405 403 401 Length: 328 ft. Beam: 46 ft. Veranda Deck Draft: 11 ft. Cabin Size: 194-205 sq. ft., with 316 314 312 310 308 306 304 302

ELV Infirmary a single cabin of 161 sq. ft. Discovery Lounge & Bar Library Reception & Marina Shop 319 317 315 313 311 309 307 305 303 Number of Cabins: 45 Access Passenger Capacity: 89 Main Deck Entered Service: 1998 Refurbished in: 2016 Marina ELV International crew: 60

The Passenger Decks: 5 Restaurant Group Size: 25 travelers, Marina Deck maximum, with 1 Trip Experience Leader per group

This ship complies with the latest international and U.S. Coast Guard safety regulations and is outfitted Elevator service to first four with the most current navigational and communications technology. It has retractable fin stabilizers to passenger decks help reduce discomfort during rough seas.

CABIN FEATURES

• 44 double-occupancy cabins between 194- 205 sq. ft.; one single-occupancy cabin is 161 sq. ft. • All outside-facing with a window or a balcony • Queen-size bed (convertible to two twins) • Complimentary wireless Internet access, closet, flat-screen TV, DVD/CD player, telephone, mini-refrigerator, safe • Private bath with shower, hair dryer, and Cabin on the Veranda Deck toiletries

44 YOUR M/V CORINTHIAN SMALL SHIP Explore aboard our privately owned, 98-passenger small ship

Discover the coastal wonders of the world aboard the M/V Corinthian. This ocean cruising vessel— which 95% of travelers rated excellent—was acquired in 2014 and refurbished in 2015 with your tastes in mind. The ship holds four groups of 20-25 travelers (with an average of 22), each with its own local Trip Experience Leader, and charts courses throughout Europe—including the British Isles, Spain, Portugal, and France—and Antarctica.

SHIPBOARD FEATURES • Restaurant with single, open seating: • Outdoor common areas: Relish coastal Savor regionally inspired dishes or views from your seat in the outdoor café, American favorites during all buffets and Sun Deck, or hot tub. table-service meals. • English-speaking crew: Enjoy dedicated • Two lounges: Relax with old friends and attention from our international staff new, and participate in onboard discussions throughout your voyage. Plus, all shipboard and lectures. announcements are made in English for • Complimentary beverages: Enjoy house your convenience. beer and house wine—as well as soft • Zodiac crafts: These onboard crafts are drinks—at any time of day while onboard. available to take you to shore in the most • Complimentary wireless Internet access: remote ports. Connect online in cabins and common areas. • Elevator service: An elevator serves all five Please note: Connectivity may be limited at passenger decks. certain points throughout your cruise.

45 M/V CORINTHIAN CABIN CATEGORIES PHS Penthouse cabin with 603 601 private balcony – 260 sq. ft. Sun Elevator Deck VS Cabin with private balcony – 604 602 Hot Tub 245 sq. ft. AA Cabin with forward Phoebe Deck windows – 285 sq. ft. Cabin with window – A 235 sq. ft. 519 517 515 511 509 507 Massage 505 Cabin with window – Sun Outdoor Elevator B Deck Cafe 225 sq. ft. 518 516 514 512 510 508 506 Cabin with porthole – C 285 sq. ft. Cleo Deck Cabin with window – D 215 sq. ft. 433 E Cabin with window 431 429 427 425 423 421 (partially obstructed) – 215 sq. ft. Bar Lounge Elevator Bridge 430 428 426 424 422 420 Registry: Malta Leto Deck Length: 290 ft. Beam: 50 ft. Shop Reception 345 343 341 339 337 335 12 ft. Discovery Lounge Draft: & Library Elevator 215 sq ft. minimum 344 342 340 338 336 334 Cabin Size: Number of Cabins: 50 Ariadne Deck Passenger Capacity: 98 Entered Service: 1990 Restaurant 251 249 247 2015 Elevator Refurbished in: 55-65 Infirmary 250 248 246 International crew: Passenger Decks: 5 Athena Deck Group Size: 25 travelers, maximum, with 1 Trip Experience Leader This ship complies with the latest international and U.S. Coast Guard safety regulations and is outfitted Elevator service to all with the most current navigational and communications technology. It has retractable fin stabilizers to passenger decks help reduce discomfort during rough seas.

CABIN FEATURES

• Each of the ship’s 49 cabins is at least 215 sq. ft. • All outside-facing with portholes, a window (some with partially obstructed views), or a balcony • Queen-size bed (convertible to two twins) • Complimentary wireless Internet access, sitting area, closet, flat-screen TV, DVD/CD player, telephone, mini-refrigerator, safe • Private bath with shower, hair dryer, and Cabin on the Ariadne deck toiletries

46 RISK-FREE BOOKING POLICY: RESERVE WITH Grand Baltic Sea Voyage CONFIDENCE—NOW THROUGH 12/31/21 We will waive any change fees if you transfer to another departure date for 2021 Dates & Prices any reason—up until 24 hours prior to departure. To calculate your trip price with airfare, add deck price to air add-ons below. See details at www.oattravel.com/riskfree-booking.

CABIN CATEGORY MAY JUN 5, 15, 25 JULY; AUG 4, 14 AUG 24 SEP 4, 14

PHS Phoebe Deck N/A $8495 $8595 $8395 $8295

VS Cleo/Sun Deck $7895 $8495 $8395 $8195 $7995

AA Cleo Deck N/A $7995 $8095 $7895 $7795

A Leto/Veranda Deck $7395 $7795 $7995 $7795 $7695

B Adriadne/Veranda Deck $7195 $7695 $7795 $7595 $7495

C Athena/Main Deck $6995 $7495 $7595 $7395 $7295

D $6795 $7295 $7395 $7195 $7095 Adriadne/Leto/Main Deck E $6395 $6895 $6995 $6795 $6695

MAY; JUN 5, 15, 25; Air Add-Ons JULY; AUG 4, 14, 24 SEP 4, 14 New York $1300 $1100 Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Minneapolis, Newark, Philadelphia $1400 $1200 Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, $1500 $1300 San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, Washington, DC Denver, Detroit $1600 $1400

Additional departure cities are available. Upgrade to Business Class may be available for the international portion of your flight. Call for details. CRB2021

Ship & Cruise Direction Copenhagen to Stockholm Stockholm to Copenhagen Prices are per person. Airfare prices include government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges. Standard DepartureShipDepartureShip Terms & Conditions apply, please visit our website: www.oattravel.com/tc. Every effort has been made to 5/16; 6/5, 6/25; 5/26; 6/15; 7/5, M/V Clio M/V Clio produce this information accurately. We reserve the right 7/15; 8/4, 8/24 7/25; 8/14 to correct errors. 9/4, 9/14 M/V Corinthian

For specific departure dates, current availability, and detailed pricing, visit www.oattravel.com/crb2021pricing

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Publication Date: 12/10/20

Information & Reservations 1-800-955-1925 www.oattravel.com/crb2021

47 TRAVEL DOCUMENTS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Your Passport • Must be in good condition

• Must be valid for at least 6 months after your scheduled return to the U.S.

• Must have the required number of blank pages (details below)

• The blank pages must be labeled “Visas” at the top. Pages labeled “Amendments and Endorsements” are not acceptable

Need to Renew Your Passport? Contact the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) at 1-877-487-2778, or visit their website at www.travel.state.gov for information on obtaining a new passport or renewing your existing passport. You may also contact our recommended visa service company, PVS International, at 1-800-556-9990 for help with your passport

Recommended Blank Pages Please confirm that your passport has enough blank pages for this adventure.

• Main trip only: You will need 5 blank passport pages.

• Pre- and/or post-trip extension: No additional blank pages are needed for any of the extensions.

Visas May Be Required We’ll be sending you a detailed Visa Packet with instructions, application forms, and fees about 100 days prior to your departure. In the meantime, we’re providing the information below as a guideline on what to expect. This information is for U.S. citizens only. All visas and fees are subject to change.

• Russia—a visa might be required. It depends on your own plans and travel preferences. Travelers who remain with our shore excursions will NOT need a visa. Travelers who explore separately or independently from the group excursions WILL need a visa. We will outline both options in more detail in the Visa Packet that you will receive about 100 days prior to you departure. Please note: Russia has strict rules about re-using a previous visa. For example, your visa must be in a valid (not expired) passport. If you have been to Russia before and think your visa may still be valid, please check now by calling PVS at 1-800-556-9990 or by contacting the embassy.

48 • For all other countries on this trip a visa is not required. For a U.S. citizen, a visa is not required for entry into Denmark, Poland, Sweden, Latvia, Estonia, or Finland. If you are staying longer than 90 days in any of these countries, you should check with their embassy or consulate for the applicable regulations.

Traveling Without a U.S. Passport? If you are not a U.S. citizen, or if your passport is from any country other than the U.S., it is your responsibility to check with your local consulate, embassy, or a visa services company about visa requirements. We recommend the services of PVS International, a national visa service located in Washington D.C.; they can be reached at 1-800-556-9990 or www.pvsinternational.org.

Traveling With a Minor? Some governments may require certain documentation for minors to enter and depart the country or to obtain a visa (if applicable). For further detail on the required documentation, please contact your local embassy or consulate.

Emergency Photocopies of Key Documents We recommend you carry color photocopies of key documents including the photo page of your passport plus any applicable visas, air itinerary, credit cards (front and back), and an alternative form of ID. Add emergency phone numbers like your credit card company and the number for your travel protection plan. Store copies separate from the originals.

If you plan to email this information to yourself, please keep in mind that email is not always secure; consider using password protection or encryption. Also email is not always available worldwide. As an alternative, you could load these documents onto a flash drive instead, which can do double-duty as a place to backup photos during your trip.

Overseas Taxes & Fees This tour may have taxes and fees that cannot be included in your airline ticket price because you are required to pay them in person onsite. All taxes are subject to change without notice and can be paid in cash (either U.S. or local currency). If applicable, you will receive a list of these fees with your Final Documents.

49 RIGORS, VACCINES & GENERAL HEALTH

Is This Adventure Right for You? Please review the information below prior to departing on this adventure. We reserve the right for our Trip Experience Leaders to modify participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home, if their condition would adversely affect the health, safety, or enjoyment of themselves or of other travelers.

GROUP SIZE • This adventure has a group size of 20-25 travelers (average of 22) with a local Trip Experience Leader exclusive to O.A.T.

PACING • 13 days, with two overnight hotel stays and 10 nights aboard the Clio or Corinthian

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS • Walk 3 miles unassisted and participate in 2 hours of physical activities each day, including stairs

• Good agility, balance, and strength needed for possible rough seas

• Not accessible for travelers using wheelchairs or scooters

• Travelers using walkers, crutches, or other mobility aids will not be able to board the Clio

• We reserve the right for Trip Experience Leaders to restrict participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home, if their limitations impact the group’s experience

TERRAIN & TRANSPORTATION • Uneven walking surfaces, including unpaved paths, hills, stairs, and cobblestones

• Travel by 89-passenger or 98-passenger small ship and 45-seat coach

CLIMATE • Daytime temperatures range from 58-77°F during cruising season

Steps to Take Before Your Trip Before you leave on this adventure, we recommend the following:

• Check with the CDC for their recommendations for the countries you’ll be visiting. You can contact them online at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel or by phone at 1-800-232-4636.

• Have a medical checkup with your doctor at least 6 weeks before your trip.

• Pick up any necessary medications, both prescription and over-the-counter.

50 • Have a dental and/or eye checkup. (Recommended, but less urgent)

Vaccines Required

COVID-19 Overseas Adventure Travel requires that all travelers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and are able provide proof of their vaccination upon arrival at their destination. A full vaccination is defined as having been inoculated at least 14 days prior to departure by an approved vaccine. This requirement is not contingent on the countries the tour visits, but a strict company policy due to the nature of the pandemic.

Traveling with Medications • Pack medications in your carry-on bag to avoid loss and to have them handy.

• Keep medicines in their original, labeled containers for a quicker security screen at the airport and a better experience if you get stopped by customs while overseas.

• Bring copies of your prescriptions, written using the generic drug name rather than a brand name to be prepared for any unforeseen loss of your medications.

We recommend checking with the State Department for medication restrictions by country: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel- Country-Information-Pages.html. (Pick the country and then follow the links to “Local Laws & Special Circumstances”; if you don’t see any medications specifically mentioned, then you can presume major U.S. brands should be OK).

For Russia, the State Department did warn that large quantities of medication will receive scrutiny by Russian customs; they recommend that all U.S. citizens entering Russia with any prescription medication carry a copy of their valid U.S. prescription. This is your proof that your prescription medication was lawfully obtained in the United States.

Staying Healthy on Your Trip Jet Lag Tips

• Start your trip well-rested.

• Begin a gradual transition to your new time zone before you leave or switch to your destination time zone when you get on the plane.

• Attempt to sleep and eat according to the new schedule.

• Avoid heavy eating and drinking caffeine or alcoholic beverages right before–and during– your flight.

• Drink plenty of water and/or fruit juice while flying

• Stretch your legs, neck, and back periodically while seated on the plane.

51 • After arrival, avoid the temptation to nap.

• Don’t push yourself to see a lot on your first day.

• Try to stay awake your first day until after dinner.

Allergies

If you have any serious allergies or dietary restrictions, we advise you to notify us at least 30 days prior to your departure. Please call our Traveler Support team at 1-800-221-0814, and we will communicate them to our regional office. Every effort will be made to accommodate you.

Water • Tap water is safe to drink on this trip; however, it may be processed differently than your tap water at home, so you might not like the taste or it may feel “heavy” in your stomach.

• Bottled water is widely available for sale. Another option is for you to bring a reusable water bottle and fill up on board the ship.

52 MONEY MATTERS: LOCAL CURRENCY & TIPPING GUIDELINES

Top Three Tips • Carry a mix of different types of payments, such as local currency, an ATM card, and a credit card.

• Traveler’s checks are not recommended. They can be difficult to exchange and the commission fee for cashing them is quite high. It’s more practical to view them as a last resort in the event of a special situation.

• It may be helpful to get some local currency before your trip, especially if you are arriving during the weekend or on a bank holiday. You will not be able to pay with U.S. dollars (cash or traveler’s checks) in most stores, including grocery stores. Occasionally, some souvenir shops or open-air markets may take dollars, but this is not common, and is at the discretion of each shop.

Local Currency For current exchange rates, please refer to an online converter tool like www.xe.com/ currencyconverter, your bank, or the financial section of your newspaper.

Euro Countries The euro is the official currency in many member countries of the European Union. Unless otherwise listed, the countries you will be visiting will use the euro. Euro banknote and coin denominations are as follows:

• Banknotes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euros

• Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents; 1 and 2 euros

Denmark The monetary unit of Denmark is the krone which is divided into 100 oere. Banknote and coin denominations are as follows:

• Banknotes: 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1,000 krone

• Coins: 50 ore and 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 krone

Danish krone are not the same as Norwegian krone or Swedish krona.

Poland The Polish monetary unit is the zloty, which is divided into 100 groszy. Banknote and coin denominations are as follows:

• Banknotes: 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 zloty

53 • Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 groszy; 1, 2, and 5 zloty

Russia The monetary unit of Russia is the ruble, which is divided into 100 copeks. On price tags, it is abbreviated to p. Banknote and coin denominations are as follows:

• Banknotes: 10, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 5,000 rubles

• Coins: 10 and 50 copeks and 1, 2, 5 and 10 rubles

Russian rubles can be very difficult to get outside of Russia, so we recommend exchanging money after you arrive.

Sweden The monetary unit in Sweden is the krona (written Kr. on price tags; the plural is kroner). The krona is divided into 100 ore. Banknote and coin denominations are as follows:

• Banknotes: 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1,000

• Coins: 1, 2, 5 and 10 kronor

Swedish kroner are not the same as Norwegian krone or Danish krone.

How to Exchange Money If you want to exchange money before your trip, you can usually do so through your bank or at an exchange office. Your departure airport in the U.S., a travel agent, or an AAA office are also possible outlets. Or you can wait and change money on the trip instead—but it might be helpful to arrive with some local currency in case you run into a bank holiday or an “out of order” ATM.

In the Baltic countries, currency exchange is available at money exchange offices, such as FOREX; many exchange offices will charge a set fee regardless of the amount you are exchanging. “Leftover” currency (except small coins) can be converted to that of the next country on your program (or to U.S. currency). In Poland, you’ll get a better exchange rate at one of the privately-run Kantors, open 9 am to 6 pm. Kantors will also change your leftover zlotys back into U.S. dollars.

TIP: Because exchange fees can be high in the Baltics, and are charged each time you make a transaction regardless of the amount, our Trip Experience Leaders suggest exchanging some money before your arrival. By arriving with enough local currency for the first couple of days, you’ll be able to track your spending and better gauge how much you’ll need overall for the trip. That said, not all of the countries on this trip use Euros, so another possibility is to use an ATM at the airport once you arrive.

Please note that many banks in Europe will only exchange money for their own customers. Never exchange money on the street. All exchange methods involve fees, which may be built into the conversion rate; ask beforehand.

54 ATMs When using the ATM, keep in mind that it may only accept cards from local banks, and may not allow cash advances on credit cards; you might need to try more than one ATM or more than one card.

Many banks charge a fee of $1-$10 each time you use a foreign ATM. Others may charge you a percentage of the amount you withdraw. We recommend that you check with your bank before you depart.

Lastly, don’t forget to memorize the actual digits of your card’s PIN number (many keypads at foreign ATMs do not include letters on their keys—they only display numbers.)

Scandinavia: ATMs are widely available throughout Scandinavia and should not be hard to find, especially in larger cities.

Poland: ATMs are widely available throughout larger cities and small towns in Poland.

The Baltics: International ATM networks are widely available throughout the Baltics, so ATMs shouldn’t be too hard to find.

Russia: International ATM networks are widely available in larger cities and small towns.

Credit & Debit Cards Even if you don’t plan on using a credit card during your trip, we still suggest that you bring one or two as a backup, especially if you are planning a large purchase (artwork, jewelry). We also suggest that you bring more than one brand of card (i.e. Visa, MasterCard, American Express) if possible, because not every shop will take every card. For example, although the Discover card is accepted in some countries outside the U.S., it is not widely adopted, so other brands will work at a much larger range of stores, restaurants, etc.

Scandinavia: Credit and debit cards are readily accepted in Scandinavia. Visa is the most widely accepted credit card in Scandinavia, followed by MasterCard and then American Express.

Poland: Credit and debit card use is common in Poland.

The Baltics: Credit cards are widely accepted in this region, especially Visa and MasterCard. American Express is not widely accepted in the Baltics.

Russia: Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in Russia, though some smaller establishments may require cash. Please note, American Express is not accepted in Russia.

Chip Cards Many countries have adopted a new type of credit card that has an embedded computer chip. These cards are inserted into the reader instead of swiped. The card owner then authorizes the purchase using a PIN instead of signing.

55 This new technology is only now gaining traction in the U.S., so occasionally there are machines in other countries that can’t read U.S. cards. Or the machine can read the card, but asks for a PIN. This doesn’t happen often, and is nothing to worry about. You can usually resolve the situation by asking the cashier to let you sign. (If you don’t speak the language, just mime signing on your hand.) If you are not able to sign for a purchase, such as at an automated ticket booth, you can use another form of payment, such as a debit card that has a PIN.

Notify Card Providers of Upcoming Travel Many credit card companies and banks have fraud alert departments that will freeze your card if they see suspicious charges—such as charges or withdrawals from another country. To avoid an accidental security block, it is a good idea to notify your credit card company and/or bank you will be using your cards abroad. You can do this by calling their customer service number a week or two before your departure. Some banks or credit card companies will also let you do this online.

You should also double-check what phone number you could call if you have a problem with a card while you are abroad. Don’t assume you can use the 1-800 number printed on the back of your card—most 1 800 numbers don’t work outside of the U.S.!

On Board Ship: Two Separate Bills Will be Issued • Shipboard account: This bill is for any on board purchases (drinks, souvenirs, etc.). You can pay this bill by cash or credit/debit card only. For cash, we accept U.S. dollars or Euros (on itineraries in Europe). For credit/debit cards, we accept MasterCard and Visa. Other forms of payment, such as checks, Discover, or American Express are not accepted.

• Optional tour account: This bill is for any optional tours taken during the trip and is calculated in U.S. dollars. You can pay for this bill by credit/debit card only; other forms of payments such as cash and checks are not accepted. For more information on optional tours—including which cards we accept for payment—see the “Preparing for Your Trip” chapter.

Please note: Payments made by credit card may take up to three months to process. We ask that you use a credit card that will not expire until three months after your trip ends. Because our headquarters are in Boston, the charges may appear to be from Boston or might be labeled as “OPT Boston” (depending on your credit card company).

Exchange Services Due to international banking laws, we are not able to exchange money onboard the ship. If you need to obtain local currency, please see the “How to Exchange Money” section for helpful tips and information.

Tipping Guidelines Of course, whether you tip, and how much, is always at your own discretion. But for those of you who have asked for tipping suggestions, we offer these guidelines.

56 • O.A.T. Trip Experience Leader: It is customary to express a personal “thank you” to your Trip Experience Leader at the end of your trip. As a guideline, many travelers give $8-$12 USD (or equivalent in local currency) per person for each day their Trip Experience Leader is with them. Please note that these tips can only be in cash. If you are taking any of the optional extensions, your Trip Experience Leader during the extension(s) may not be the same as the one on your main trip.

• Shipboard: We recommend a flat tip of $16-$18 per traveler, per day. You’ll give this tip once—at the end of you cruise—and it will be pooled among the entire crew. Crew tips can only be in the form of cash.

• Housekeeping Staff at Hotels: We recommend $1 per traveler, per day. (This is for hotels only; on the ship Housekeeping are part of crew, so you don’t need to tip them separately.)

• Included in Your Trip Price: Gratuities are included for local guides and motorcoach drivers on your main trip, extensions, and all optional tours.

Time at Leisure

When you are exploring on your own, it’s useful to know when to tip and how much, because local customs often differ from the U.S. Here are a few helpful guidelines for the most common services a traveler might use:

• Taxis: Tipping is not customary, but many locals will round up the fare and let the driver keep the change.

• Restaurants, cafes, and bars: When dining on your own, check your bill for a service charge. If a service charge is not included in your bill, we suggest you leave about 10% of the check.

• Public restrooms: Most public restrooms in Europe have attendants that take care of cleaning and supplies. It is customary to leave a small tip for them—usually half of whatever currency is in use in that country (half a euro, half a krone, half a pound)—so hold on to those coins! Some restrooms are pay-toilets; you pay the staff at the entrance to the restroom or drop the appropriate coin into the slot on the stall door. Many restaurants, cafes, and shops offer only pay-toilets or reserve their restrooms for patrons only.

57 AIR, OPTIONAL TOURS & STAYING IN TOUCH

Land Only Travelers & Personalized Air Quick Definitions

• Land Only: You will be booking your own international flights. Airport transfers are not included.

• Air-Inclusive: You booked international air with us. Airport transfers are included as long as you didn’t customize your trip’s dates (see next bullet).

• Personalized Air: You booked international air with us, and have customized it in some way. If you have customized your trip’s dates to arrive early, stay longer, or stop on your own in a connecting city, airport transfers will NOT be included. You must also arrange your own accommodations for any additional nights. For your convenience, a preliminary list of your included hotels is available on your My Account at www.oattravel.com/myaccount under “My Reservations”.

Airport Transfers Can Be Purchased For eligible flights, airport transfers may be purchased separately as an optional add-on, subject to availability. To be eligible, your flight(s) must meet the following requirements:

• You must fly into or fly home from the same airport as O.A.T. travelers who purchased included airfare.

• Your flight(s) must arrive/depart on the same day that the group arrives or departs.

Airport transfers can be purchased up to 45 days prior to your departure; they are not available for purchase onsite. To learn more, or purchase airport transfers, please call our Traveler Support team at 1-800-221-0814.

If you don’t meet the requirements above, you’ll need to make your own transfer arrangements. We suggest the Rome to Rio website as a handy resource: www.rome2rio.com.

Air Inclusive Travelers If you have purchased international air with us, there are some points that may be helpful for you to know.

• U.S. Departure: If you are among a group of ten or more travelers who depart the U.S. from your international gateway city, it is our goal to have an O.A.T. representative assist you at the U.S. airport with the check-in of your flight. Unless there are extenuating circumstances beyond our control, the representative will be at the check-in counter three hours before your departure time. If you are flying domestically before your international flight, the representative will be stationed at the check-in counter for your departing international flight, not at the domestic arrival gate.

58 • Overseas Arrival: Once you arrive overseas, you’ll need to collect your luggage and clear customs. An O.A.T. representative will meet you outside of customs and assist you with your transfer to the hotel or ship. Important note on porters: Airport porters are NOT allowed in the baggage claim area. On arrival, you must take your luggage off the baggage carousel and load it onto a cart, which you will then move through customs. When you exit customs, you’ll handle your cart until reaching your transfer vehicle. Your driver will load your luggage into the transfer vehicle.

• U.S. Return: If you are among a group of ten or more travelers who return to the same U.S. gateway city, an O.A.T. representative will meet you as you exit Customs and help you find taxis, buses, hotel accommodations, or connecting flights. Again, it is our goal to have our representative waiting to assist your group. In rare instances, unforeseen circumstances may prevent this service.

• Flying with a Travel Companion: If you’re traveling with a companion from a different household, and both of you are beginning and ending your trip at the same airport on the same dates, let us know you’d like to travel together and we’ll make every effort to arrange this (please note, however, that this is not always possible). If you request any changes to your flights, please be sure that both you and your companion tell us that you still want to fly together.

Optional Tours Optional tours are additional add-on tours that allow you to personalize your adventure by tailoring it to your tastes and needs. And if you decide not to join an optional tour? Then you’ll have free time to relax or explore on your own—it’s about options, not obligations.

What You Need to Know • All optional tours are subject to change and availability.

• Optional tours that are reserved with your Trip Experience Leader can be paid for using credit/debit cards only. We accept MasterCard, Visa, and Discover credit cards; we can also take MasterCard or Visa debit cards as long as the card allows you to sign for purchases. (You won’t be able to enter a PIN.)

• To ensure that you are charged in U.S. dollars, your payment will be processed by our U.S. headquarters in Boston. This process can take up to three months, so we ask that you only use a card that will still be valid three months after your trip is over. The charge may appear on your credit card statement as being from Boston, MA or may be labeled as “OPT Boston”.

• Your Trip Experience Leader will give you details on the optional tours while you’re on the trip. But if you’d like to look over descriptions of them earlier, you can do so at any time by referring to your Day-to-Day Itinerary (available online by signing into My Account at www.oattravel.com/myaccount).

59 Communicating with Home from Abroad

Cell Phones If you want to use your cell phone on the trip, check with your phone provider to see if your phone and service will work outside of the U.S. It may turn out to be cheaper to rent an international phone or buy a SIM card onsite. If you want to use a local SIM, just make certain your phone is “unlocked”, meaning it can accept a local SIM card. If your cell is “unlocked” then you will be able to purchase a local SIM for it and then buy minutes with “Pay as You Go” cards, so that you have a local contact number for your friends and family.

Calling Apps Another option is to use a smartphone app like Skype or FaceTime. These services are usually less expensive than making a traditional call, but you’ll need a Wi-Fi connection and the calls may count towards your phone plan’s data allowance. Many smartphones—and some tablets or laptops—come with one of these apps pre-installed or you can download them for free from the appropriate apps store.

Calling Cards & 1-800 Numbers When calling the U.S. from a foreign country, a prepaid calling card can be useful because it circumvents unexpected charges from the hotel. Calling cards purchased locally are typically the best (less expensive, more likely to work with the local phones, etc.). One reminder: Do not call U.S. 1-800 numbers outside the continental United States. This can result in costly long distance fees, since 1-800 numbers do not work outside the country.

How to Call Overseas When calling overseas from the U.S., dial 011 for international exchange, then the country code (indicated by a plus sign: +), and then the number. Note that foreign phone numbers may not have the same number of digits as U.S. numbers; even within a country the number of digits can vary depending on the city and if the phone is a land line or cell phone.

Denmark: +45 Russia: +7

Poland: +48 Finland: +358

Estonia: +372 Sweden: +46

Latvia: +371

60 PACKING: WHAT TO BRING & LUGGAGE LIMITS

Luggage Limits

MAIN TRIP LIMITS

Pieces per person One checked bag and one carry-on bag per person.

Weight restrictions Varies by airline. The current standard is 50 lbs for checked bags and 15 lbs for carry-on bags.

Size Restrictions Varies by airline. Measured in linear inches (length+width+depth). Generally, 62 linear inches is the checked bag limit; carry-on limit is 45 linear inches.

Luggage Type A sturdy, fabric-sided suitcase with built-in wheels and lockable zippers is recommended.

TRIP EXTENSION(S) LIMITS

Same as the main trip.

REMARKS/SUGGESTIONS

One suitcase and one carry-on bag per person: Due to the space limitations on bus transfers, you’ll be restricted to one suitcase and one carry-on bag per person. This is to ensure that we have room for everyone’s luggage. We ask that you abide by this limit to avoid inconveniencing your fellow travelers and prevent additional airlines luggage fees (which are your responsibility). Most airlines now charge to check more than one suitcase per person.

Luggage rules: Luggage rules and limits are set by governmental and airline policy. Enforcement of the rules may include spot checks or may be inconsistent. However one thing is the same across the board: If you are found to have oversized or overweight luggage, you will be subject to additional fees, to be assessed by—and paid to—the airline in question.

Don’t Forget: • These luggage limits may change. If the airline(s) notify us of any changes, we will include an update in your Final Documents booklet.

61 • It’s a good idea to reconfirm baggage restrictions and fees directly with the airline a week or so prior to departure. For your convenience, we maintain a list of the toll-free numbers for the most common airlines on our website in the FAQ section.

• Baggage fees are not included in your trip price; they are payable directly to the airlines.

Your Luggage • Checked Luggage: Consider a duffel bag or soft-sided suitcase. Look for one with heavy nylon fabric, wrap-around handles, built-in wheels, and a heavy duty lockable zipper. Due to space limitations on our motorcoaches, you are allowed one piece of checked luggage per person. Porterage at airports and hotels is provided for one bag per person. All bags should have luggage tags.

• Carry-on Bag: You are allowed one carry-on bag per person. We suggest a tote or small backpack that can be used as both a carry-on bag for your flight and to carry your daily necessities—water bottle, camera, etc—during your daily activities.

• Locks: For flights that originate in the U.S., you can either use a TSA-approved lock or leave your luggage unlocked. Outside of the U.S. we strongly recommend locking your luggage as a theft-prevention measure.

Clothing Suggestions: Functional Tips • Travel light. A good rule of thumb is to gather together everything you want to bring; then take half of that. Eliminate all but the essentials and start packing a few days before you leave. That way, you’ll have time to think—not fret—about what you might be forgetting. We recommend you pick pack color-coordinated separates that can be mixed to create different outfits.

• Good walking shoes are essential: For your comfort, you’ll need supportive walking shoes that offer good traction. Water-resistant shoes can be handy in case of a heavy downpour.

• Rain gear: Regardless of your month of travel, rainfall is certainly a possibility. We suggest you bring a folding umbrella and waterproof shell. Water-resistant walking shoes are advantageous in case heavy downpours pass through.

Style Hints • Pack casual clothes. Comfortable, informal apparel is perfectly acceptable at each of your destinations. Men do not need jackets or ties and women do not need fancy dresses. You may want one or two “smart casual” outfits for the Welcome Reception or Farewell Dinner, but it’s completely up to you. You would only need nicer dress if you plan to dine at a deluxe city restaurant on your own.

62 • Keep local customs in mind. During this trip we may visit religious sites where visitors are required to dress modestly. In this context, “modestly dressed” means you should be covered to the knees and you should cover your shoulders—no shorts, no skirts above the knee, no sleeveless shirts, and no low or revealing necklines. Even if you are traveling during warm weather, bring at least one outfit that meets these requirements.

Suggested Packing Lists We have included suggestions from Trip Experience Leaders and former travelers to help you pack. These lists are only jumping-off points—they offer recommendations based on experience, but not requirements. You may also want to consult the “Climate” chapter of this handbook.

And don’t forget a reusable water bottle—you’ll need it to take advantage of any refills we offer as we are working to eliminate single-use plastic bottles on all of our trips.

Recommended Clothing ‰Shirts: A mixture of short and long-sleeved shirts to layer ‰Trousers, jeans, or skirts ‰Comfortable walking shoes and/or water resistant shoes ‰At least one outfit for visiting a Russian Orthodox church: Long trousers or a skirt that falls below the knees, and a shirt with sleeves; plus a headscarf (for female travelers).

‰Light rain jacket/windbreaker with hood ‰Sleepwear ‰Socks and undergarments ‰Light sweater, vest, jacket, or another layer for warmth ‰Swimsuit for hotel pools or saunas

Essential Items ‰Daily essentials: toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, hairbrush or comb, shaving items, deodorant, sunscreen, etc.

‰Spare eyeglasses/contact lenses and your prescription ‰Sunglasses with a neck strap ‰Insect repellent

63 ‰Travel money bag or money belt ‰Electrical converter & plug adapters ‰Compact umbrella ‰Wide-brim sun hat or visor (seasonal) ‰Pocket-size tissues ‰Moist towelettes and/or anti-bacterial “water-free” hand cleanser ‰Photocopies of passport, air ticket, credit cards ‰Written prescriptions for your medicines ‰Camera, spare batteries, and memory cards

Medicines ‰Your own prescription medicines ‰Vitamins ‰Cold remedies: Sudafed/Dristan ‰Pain relievers: Ibuprofen/naproxen/aspirin ‰Laxatives: Senokot/Ex-Lax ‰Stomach upset: Pepto-Bismol/Mylanta ‰Anti-diarrheal: Imodium ‰Band-Aids, Moleskin foot pads ‰Antibiotics: Neosporin/Bacitracin ‰Motion sickness medicine, such as Dramamine

TIP: The State Department says that if you are bringing prescription medications into Russia, they recommend carrying a copy of your valid U.S. prescription. That way, if the Russian customs officials ask, you have proof that your prescription medication was lawfully obtained in the United States.

Optional Gear ‰Washcloth (not provided by hotel)

64 ‰Hand-wash laundry soap and maybe clothespins/travel clothesline/stopper ‰Electrical transformer & plug adapters— see “Electricity” ‰Travel journal/note pad/reading material ‰Addresses for postcards ‰Phrase book ‰Collapsible walking staff ‰Pocket calculator for exchange rates ‰Reusable water bottle ‰Hair dryers: Hair dryers are provided on your ship. During land stays, many hotels will provide hair dryers, but not all. If a hair dryer is essential to you consider a travel-size version.

Electricity Abroad When traveling overseas, the voltage is usually different and the plugs might not be the same shape.

Voltage Electricity in this region is 220-240 volts. In the U.S. it is 110 volts. Most of the things a traveler will want to plug in—battery chargers, MP3 players, tablets or computers—can run off both 110 and 220-240. But you should check the item or the owner’s guide first to confirm this before you plug it in. If you have something that needs 110 volts—like a shaver or a hairdryer—you can bring a transformer to change the current. (But transformers tend to burn out, so it might be better to leave whatever it is at home.)

Aboard the ship, cabins are equipped with 110-volt outlets. In your bathroom you will find a dual 110/220-volt outlet; this outlet is only for low-voltage appliances, like electric shavers. (Your bathroom also comes equipped with a hair dryer).

Plugs Aboard ship, the plugs are standard American plugs.

In hotels, the shape of plugs will vary from country to country, and sometimes even within a country depending on when that building was built. To plug something from the U.S. into a local socket you’ll need an adapter that fits between the plug and the socket. Because you’ll be visiting multiple countries on this trip, it may be easier to purchase an all-in-one, universal adapter/ converter combo. Versatile and lightweight, these can usually be found at your local electronics

65 goods or hardware stores. Sometimes you can buy them at large retailers too, like Target or Walmart. If you forget to bring an adapter, you might also find them for sale at the airport when you arrive at your destination.

Different plug shapes are named by letters of the alphabet. Standard U.S. plugs are Type A and Type B. Here is the list of plugs for the countries on this trip:

Denmark: C and F

Poland: C and E

Estonia: C and F

Latvia: C and F

Russia: C and F

Finland: C and F

Sweden: C and F

Type C Type F Type E

66 Availability Barring the occasional and unpredictable power outage, electricity is as readily available on this trip as it is in the U.S.

67 CLIMATE & AVERAGE TEMPERATURES

Copenhagen, Denmark: The weather in Copenhagen is mild through all the four seasons—with highs usually in the 60s and lows usually in the 50s—although temperatures in winter can drop down into the 30s and 40s. On the other end of the scale, summertime highs rarely go above 80 °F despite the occasional heat wave. Rainfall is moderate too, but spread throughout the year, so showers are possible in any season. Grey skies are the norm rather than the exception in Copenhagen.

Poland: Poland has a long border with the Czech and Slovak Republics in the south and a coastline on the Baltic Sea in the north. Most of Poland has a very similar climate and the same sequence of weather throughout the year. Winter cold increases towards the east and in the southern mountains, while the coastlands of the Baltic Sea have slightly milder winters and cooler summers. Precipitation is well distributed around the year with a summer maximum of rain, often heavy and accompanied by thunder. Much of the winter precipitation is snow. Summer temperatures do not differ very much over the country. It rarely gets excessively hot but fine, sunny spells of weather and occasional droughts occur. Winters are distinctly cold and the length of really cold spells varies considerably from year to year.

Riga, Latvia: Summers in Riga tend to be short and cool with cloud cover; highs are generally in the 60s or 70s in July, but can sometimes go up to the 80s. Winters are usually dark and cold, with heavy snowfall from mid-December to mid-March. The city is overcast for roughly 40 percent of the year.

Tallinn, Estonia: The climate in northerly Tallinn is tempered by its location on the Baltic Sea. In summer, the city gets cooling sea breezes; in winter the same sea air keeps the snowfall in check. That’s not to say that Tallinn doesn’t get snow—a couple feet a year—but it’s considerably less than in nearby Finland or Russia. Spring and fall bring mild temperatures but can also feature sea fog and/or sudden rain. In summer, high temperatures rarely top the low 80s.

St. Petersburg, Russia: The weather in St. Petersburg is similar to that of its neighbors, Helsinki and Tallinn. Summer is often comfortably warm and bright, but hot spells also occur, as do afternoon rain showers. By the middle of August, autumn has arrived and by October, the temperatures usually have dropped to the 50s and 40s, and a crispness has entered the air or there may even be snow. The climate in St. Petersburg is varied, and quick to change from sun to rain to wind—even within the space of one day. (Our regional office suggests wearing layers and bringing an umbrella, just in case.)

Stockholm, Sweden: Despite its northern location, Stockholm has relatively mild weather compared to other locations at similar latitude. Summers have average daytime highs of 68–72 °F and lows of around 55 °F, but temperatures can reach the mid-eighties. Winters are sometimes snowy with average temperatures ranging from 23 to 34 °F, and sometimes drop below 5 °F. Spring and autumn are generally cool to mild. Yearly precipitation averages 21.2 inches with around 170 wet days and light to moderate rainfall throughout the year. Snowfall occurs mainly from December through March with some snow-rich winters, while others are milder with more rain than snow.

68 The Baltics The Baltic climate might be more temperate than you’d expect. For example, even though Estonia is on the same latitude as parts of Alaska, the climate is closer to that of New England or the Canadian seaboard (due to the influence of the shallow Baltic Sea). During spring and fall, high temperatures tend to be in the 50s. In summer highs are generally in the 60s or 70s. Rain showers are more frequent in summer and early fall. One intriguing climate phenomenon experienced in many cities throughout the region is the “White Nights”, a term used to describe the unusually long hours of daylight around the summer solstice.

Climate Averages & Online Forecast The following charts reflect the average climate as opposed to exact weather conditions. This means they serve only as general indicators of what can reasonably be expected. An extreme heat wave or cold snap could fall outside these ranges. As your departure approaches, we encourage you to go online to www.oattravel.com/myaccount for your 10-day forecast.

Average Daily High/Low Temperatures (°F), Humidity & Monthly Rainfall

MONTH COPENHAGEN, DENMARK GDANSK, POLAND

Temp. High-Low % Relative Average # of Days Temp. High-Low % Relative Average # of Days Humidity (am-pm) with Rainfall Humidity (am-pm) with Rainfall JAN 37 to 30 89 to 85 18 33 to 24 90 to 87 22 FEB 36 to 28 89 to 80 15 33 to 24 89 to 83 18 MAR 41 to 32 89 to 74 15 40 to 29 89 to 75 18 APR 49 to 36 84 to 63 15 49 to 35 87 to 66 16 MAY 60 to 45 76 to 57 14 60 to 43 80 to 62 16 JUN 66 to 52 76 to 59 16 66 to 49 80 to 64 17 JUL 69 to 55 78 to 60 15 69 to 53 85 to 66 18 AUG 69 to 54 82 to 60 16 69 to 53 88 to 65 16 SEP 61 to 50 86 to 67 15 61 to 47 91 to 70 18 OCT 53 to 44 87 to 76 19 52 to 40 92 to 77 18 NOV 44 to 37 87 to 82 19 41 to 33 92 to 87 22 DEC 39 to 32 88 to 85 18 35 to 28 91 to 89 23

69 MONTH RIGA, LATVIA TALLINN, ESTONIA

Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Humidity (am-pm) (inches) Humidity (am-pm) (inches) JAN 29 to 22 87 to 83 1.3 30 to 20 87 to 85 2.0 FEB 29 to 21 86 to 78 0.9 29 to 19 87 to 80 1.3 MAR 37 to 28 87 to 70 1.0 36 to 24 88 to 73 1.4 APR 48 to 35 86 to 61 1.4 47 to 32 86 to 64 1.4 MAY 60 to 45 83 to 56 1.7 59 to 41 84 to 55 1.5 JUN 66 to 52 88 to 61 2.3 66 to 50 87 to 59 2.4 JUL 69 to 56 90 to 65 2.8 70 to 54 91 to 63 3.0 AUG 68 to 55 91 to 65 2.7 68 to 53 92 to 67 3.3 SEP 59 to 48 90 to 69 2.6 58 to 45 92 to 72 3.0 OCT 50 to 41 88 to 74 2.1 48 to 38 89 to 76 3.0 NOV 39 to 33 88 to 83 2.0 38 to 30 89 to 85 2.7 DEC 32 to 25 88 to 85 1.5 33 to 24 88 to 86 2.4

MONTH ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA HELSINKI, FINLAND

Temp. High-Low % Relative Average # of Days Temp. High-Low % Relative Average # of Days Humidity (am-pm) with Rainfall Humidity (am-pm) with Rainfall JAN 24 to 15 86 to 83 11 26 to 16 88 to 87 16 FEB 25 to 16 86 to 79 7 27 to 15 89 to 82 11 MAR 34 to 24 85 to 70 11 34 to 23 89 to 74 12 APR 46 to 33 83 to 59 12 45 to 31 87 to 59 13 MAY 60 to 44 80 to 51 14 59 to 41 84 to 51 14 JUN 66 to 52 82 to 57 16 66 to 49 85 to 55 17 JUL 70 to 56 87 to 61 16 70 to 53 90 to 59 15 AUG 66 to 54 90 to 64 15 66 to 51 93 to 66 17 SEP 56 to 45 90 to 69 16 56 to 43 93 to 72 15 OCT 45 to 37 87 to 75 20 46 to 36 91 to 80 20 NOV 35 to 28 87 to 83 14 36 to 28 90 to 88 17 DEC 28 to 20 87 to 85 10 30 to 20 89 to 88 16

70 MONTH STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN

Temp. High-Low % Relative Average # of Days Humidity (am-pm) with Rainfall JAN 31 to 22 89 to 87 13 FEB 31 to 20 91 to 80 10 MAR 37 to 26 91 to 69 13 APR 47 to 31 86 to 57 15 MAY 60 to 41 75 to 49 17 JUN 67 to 49 74 to 52 18 JUL 70 to 54 79 to 56 20 AUG 68 to 53 87 to 58 19 SEP 58 to 45 91 to 64 20 OCT 58 to 45 91 to 64 19 NOV 39 to 31 91 to 87 18 DEC 32 to 23 91 to 89 15

71 ABOARD YOUR SHIP: CABIN FEATURES, DINING & SERVICES ON BOARD

M/V Corinthian & M/V Clio

Cabin Amenities Your cabin amenities include a private bathroom with shower, hairdryer, TV, in room heating, internal telephones and a mini-refrigerator. Each cabin is appointed with a sitting area, plus the decks and dining rooms are spacious and attractively decorated, providing welcoming locations for relaxing with your traveling companions.

Cabin Assignments You will receive confirmation of your deck and/or cabin category upfront in writing; it will be on your invoice and online in My Account at www.oattravel.com/myaccount. However, your cabin number may not be assigned until you arrive onboard the ship. (This is normal procedure for many small ships.) If there’s no cabin number on your invoice or online, you can presume it will be assigned later and communicated to you when you board.

Dining All meals are taken in the onboard restaurant, which acts as the ship’s dining room. Meals will be a mix of regional specialties and familiar American standards, and will feature a variety of entrée options including vegetarian. Complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks are served with lunch and dinner. A selection of fine wines is also available for purchase, starting at approximately $20-30 per bottle (prices vary according to vintage). Travelers may also bring a bottle of their own favorite wine to dinner to enjoy at their table. Should you care to avail yourself of this service, there will be a corkage fee of approximately $10 per bottle, charged to your cabin account.

If you require a special diet, please request this in advance, you may do so by contacting one of our Travel Counselors. Dining times will vary according to the scheduled daily activities. In keeping with regional custom, dinner may be served at a later hour (around 7:00 pm) than Americans may be accustomed to.

Electricity Cabins are equipped with 110-volt outlets that are designed to fit American plugs. In your bathroom you will find a dual 110/220-volt outlet, for use with electric shavers. While your bathroom does come equipped with a hairdryer, please do not use any other appliances that heat up, such as hair irons or curlers—they tend to short out.

Getting Ashore Getting from ship to shore during an ocean-going voyage is not the same experience as on a river cruise—it requires more balance and agility, plus there are more formalities.

72 • Balance and agility are needed: You’ll either walk down a gangway—which can be steep, wet, and slippery—or be shuttled to land in a small boat (a process known as “tendering”). We’ll use the gangway most of the time, but tenders will be used when the ship cannot dock closely enough for the gangway to reach the shore. Tenders can differ in size, and some of them maybe open with no covering. From time to time we will use the ship’s own fleet of Zodiacs—which are small but study open-air boats holding 8-10 people each—as tenders. To get into one of the Zodiacs, you’ll need to go down a steep staircase, and then crew members will assist you as you step from the M/V Corinthian or M/V Clio into the Zodiac.

• Clothing note: Since tenders in general (and the Zodiacs in particular) are small open-air boats, they are more susceptible to being splashed by water. You might want to bring a rain jacket or waterproof cover (like a poncho) to protect your clothing while transferring from ship to shore.

• Expect formalities on arrival in port: When the M/V Corinthian or M/V Clio arrives in a new port, she’ll need to be cleared by the local port authorities before you can leave the ship. In some cases, the wait will be as short as 30 minutes, but other times it may take up to 2 hours. Your crew will do all they can to make the wait as short as possible and to minimize the inconvenience to you. (For example, you will be asked to leave your passport with the front desk when you first embark on the ship. That way, it is on hand if the port authorities ask to see it.) However, the procedure can be complex and may take a while to complete. Typically the authorities work directly with the crew, but they do retain the right to speak with you as well.

Headsets On European cruises, complimentary headsets (often called “whisper receivers”) will be provided on most included and optional tours, so that you can hear better over ambient noise. If you use a hearing aid or have a strong preference for a particular type of headphones, we highly encourage you to bring your own headphones/ear buds with you. The plug size is usually the same as that used by iPods, computer jacks, etc. Headsets will also be available during the pre- and post-trip extensions in Europe, but not on the transfer day to/from the main trip. On cruises to the Middle East, South America, or Antarctica whispers may not be available or may only be available in certain locations—your Trip Experience Leader will let you know onsite.

Internet Access and Email Limited wireless Internet service (WiFi) is available for free onboard. If you want to use it, you’ll need to bring your own device—a laptop, tablet, MP3 player, smart phone, etc.—because the ship does not rent or loan these devices. Instructions on how to connect will be available at Reception. Please keep in mind that our WiFi access onboard is subject to the challenges of travel: ship location, signal availability, and usage volume onboard will affect connectivity and speed. You should expect that there will be times when the Internet is either slow or not available, and that these disruptions can be brief or longer lasting.

73 Laundry Services There is laundry service available on board, but no dry cleaning. Prices are per piece of clothing and will be provided to you on board.

Medical Services There is always a doctor onboard, as well as all of the basic First Aid supplies. All physician’s fees will be payable directly to the doctor. All specific medicines are the responsibility of each traveler.

Recreational Facilities Our ship features a library, a lounge with a bar, a dining room, and a sun deck. The bar is open from approximately 11 am to 11 pm, and features both complimentary drinks (soft drinks, house beer, house wine, and non-alcoholic cocktails/beer) and drinks for purchase (spirits, alcoholic cocktails, bottled beers, and a selection of wines).

Bicycles We’re pleased to offer complimentary bicycle rentals onboard your ship for use during free time, including all of the necessary safety gear, such as a helmet, brightly-colored safety vest, and a lock. Because there is a limited supply of bicycles available, they will be offered on a first-come first-served basis. For more information or if you are interested in using one of the bicycles, please speak to the Front Desk staff or Hotel Manager onboard your ship.

Shipboard Payments Payment for shipboard expenses can be made by cash or credit/debit card only. For cash, we accept U.S. dollars or Euros (on itineraries in Europe). For credit/debit cards, we accept MasterCard and Visa. Other forms of payment, such as checks, Discover, or American Express are not accepted.

Ship-to-Shore Communications The ship has satellite telephone connections which allows you to call anywhere in accordance with the current local tariffs. You can purchase phone cards at the reception desk for $10, which will give you 15-30 minutes’ worth call time to the U.S. (depending on which state you are calling).

Smoking Policy Smoking is prohibited on board, with the exception of a designated outdoor deck area reserved for smokers.

Wheelchairs The ship is not built to accommodate wheelchairs.

74 Lost & Found Any lost or forgotten items found on board the ship will be held for 90 days from disembarkation. After 90 days, all unclaimed items will be discarded or donated.

Ship Specifications

M/V Corinthian • History: Built in 1990; purchased in 2014

• Size: 290x50 ft

• Capacity: 98 passengers, 56 crew members

• Layout: 49 cabins, 5 decks; Elevator-yes

M/V Clio • History: Built in 1998; purchased in 2015

• Size: 328x46 ft

• Capacity: 89 passengers, 60 crew members

• Layout: 45 cabins, 5 decks; Elevator-yes

75 ABOUT YOUR DESTINATIONS: CULTURE, ETIQUETTE & MORE

O.A.T. Trip Experience Leaders: A World of Difference During your adventure you’ll be accompanied by one of our local, expert Trip Experience Leaders. All are fluent in English and possess the skills, certification, and experience necessary to ensure an enriching adventure. As locals of the regions you’ll explore with them, our Trip Experience Leaders provide the kind of firsthand knowledge and insight that make local history, culture, and wildlife come alive. Coupled with their unbridled enthusiasm, caring personalities, and ability to bring diverse groups of travelers together, our Trip Experience Leaders ensure that your experience with O.A.T. is one you’ll remember for a lifetime.

Culture of the Baltic Sea Region There are nine countries with a shoreline that meet the Baltic Sea. On your main itinerary, you will visit seven of these countries: Denmark, Poland, Sweden, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, and Finland. Your voyage starts in Denmark, a seafaring country that is a hub for commerce. Simplicity, politeness, and equality are the foundations of Danish culture. Material possessions and high income do not hold much weight—even bragging is considered rude. A simpler life is the essence of Danish culture. While Danes pay the world’s highest taxes, overall they are a happy population with solid coverage of health care, unemployment, and various other social services provided by the government.

Your next stop is Poland, a country with a thousand-year history and rich traditions. Despite being divided and ruled by foreign powers for centuries, Poland has kept its cultural heritage and national identity intact. Religion plays a vital role in Polish culture with over 85% of the population identifying as Roman Catholic. Religious holidays are considered national holidays and most businesses close for these celebrations. Sadly, prior to World War II, Poland had the highest Jewish population in Europe, but the Holocaust destroyed a flourishing community.

Following Poland, you’ll dock in Sweden. Like most of their Scandinavian neighbors, Swedes are egalitarian in nature—best seen through their social welfare system. Lagom is a cornerstone of Swedish culture, meaning “Not too little. Not too much. Just right.” This idea influences the country’s entire cultural fabric—from cuisine to communication style. Another cornerstone of Swedish culture is their appreciation and respect for the environment. They are a global leader in organic agriculture, recycling, and renewable energy.

Your voyage then takes you to the Baltic states of Latvia and Estonia. After World War II, Estonia and Latvia were satellite governments dictated through the Soviet Union. On August 23, 1989, two million people joined hands and formed a human chain stretching for 420 miles from Talinn, Estonia; through Riga, Latvia; and into Vilnius, Lithuania. Known as “The Baltic Way,” it gave powerful expression to the yearning of the Baltic people for freedom from Soviet oppression. It also remains an indelible image of their solidarity. The people of these three states have endured the same historical challenges, and have built a remarkable symbiotic relationship based on mutual cooperation, shared values, and similar societies. With the dissolving of the Soviet Union in 1991, these eastern Baltic states were free and could express their unique cultures.

76 Estonia and Latvia are culturally, ethnically, and linguistically distinct. Latvians descend from the ancient Balts; Estonians are a separate Finnic ethnic group, with a language that is close to Finnish but unrelated to all other European tongues. There are large minorities in both countries: Russians in Latvia and Estonia. After World War II, many ethnic Russians were purposely transplanted to Latvia and Estonia as part of the Soviet agenda of Russification. Since independence, the Baltics have struggled to better integrate these second or third generation Baltic Russians, most of whom have never known another home.

There are also religious differences. Latvia and Estonia are Lutheran and Orthodox. Latvia and Estonia were the last corner of Europe to be Christianized, and today there is a growing neo- pagan religious movement. It is tolerated and even celebrated by non-believers because it focuses on a reverence for nature and one’s ancestry; and is bound up in national myths, customs, folk art, and songs. Song, in particular, is a revered art form. Children learn singing and dancing at an early age, often becoming part of folk ensembles that perform publicly. The importance of these art forms has been recognized by UNESCO, which declared them Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Not all religions were benignly tolerated. Historically, Latvia had a thriving Jewish populations dating to the Middle Ages. (Estonia’s Jewish community was smaller.) In the mid- 18th century, Riga, Latvia was a flourishing center of Jewish artistic, commercial, and intellectual life. But tragically, more than 94% of the Baltic Jews were exterminated during the Holocaust, ending a long history of cultural contributions. Today, the small Jewish communities are not remnants but new: They re-emerged due to the influx of Soviet Jewry after the war.

The stereotype of the Baltic people as being polite but reserved (or in the case of Latvia, introverted) is just that: a stereotype based more on outward manners than any ingrained mentality. Ask an Estonian about Skype (they invented it), or ask a Latvian about their favorite basketball team, and you will be engaged in animated conversation for hours.

The next stop on your voyage is Russia. Russian culture has a long a rich history, steeped in ballet, literature, music, and art. During the Soviet era, most customs and traditions were suppressed until the 1980s when reforms eased political and social restrictions. Common traditions and folkways began to make their way back into the fabric of Russian culture—along with the open practice of religion. Folk holidays have become vital elements of popular culture. These festivities usually include street carnivals, traditional food, and entertainers dressed in traditional Russian clothing. The size and diversity of Russia affords travelers the chance to experience various aspects of Russian life—from cosmopolitan cities to rural villages.

The final stop on your journey is Finland, where the unshakeable belief of sisu—referring to courage, stamina, and perseverance—dominates their culture. The rugged landscape and climate, as well the country’s historic struggles against overbearing neighbors from the east and the west, have created a distinct Finnish culture. Many Finnish customs are closely associated with forests, which Finns see as a place of refuge and respite. During weekends and holidays, Finns flee from the stresses of their urban life to the comfort of the forest. Other customs associated with forests are strong in Finland: bonfires lit at Midsummer, doorways decorated with birch, and leafy birch whisks used in traditional wooden saunas.

77 Personal Space Our Trip Experience Leaders have remarked that personal space seems to be bigger in the Baltics than the U.S., especially in the countryside. Kissing, hugging, and touching in general is usually not done unless you know the other person.

Taking Photographs The etiquette of photographing most people in Europe is about the same as it would be on the streets of your hometown. You need permission to take a close-up, but not for a crowd scene. Consent is especially important if you want to take a photo of a child or minor—ask their parent for permission first. To get a great portrait, show interest in your subject and try to have a bit of social interaction to put them at ease. Then use sign language to inquire if a picture is OK.

Safety & Security As you travel, exercise the same caution and awareness that you would in a large American city. Don’t be overly nervous or suspicious, but keep your eyes open. If you are venturing out after dark, go with one or two other people.

Carry a one-day supply of cash in your pocket. Carry most of your money, and your passport, in a travel pouch or money belt under your shirt. Replenish your pocket supply when you are in a safe and quiet place, or in our vehicle. Don’t leave valuables unattended in your hotel room. Most hotels will offer use of a hotel safe at the front desk or an electronic in-room safe (for which you can set your own personal number). Please utilize them.

Pickpockets may create a sudden distraction. In any sort of puzzling street situation, try to keep one hand on your wallet or money belt. If an encounter with a local turns out to be long and complicated and involves money or your valuables, be very careful. Con artists sometimes target travelers.

Hotels With an emphasis on minimalism and functional design, you’ll discover that hotel rooms in this region are traditionally much smaller than in the United States, and tend to feature a sleek, modern look. Rooms are comfortable, clean, and well-equipped, but you should expect to experience how locals make use of limited space, which may mean that the bathrooms are smaller, or the beds are closer together, than you’d find at home.

Customer Service That the Soviet era left its mark on Russia (and the neighboring Baltics) is understandable and expected. But what might surprise you is its effect on customer service standards, even today. A famous story illustrates this influence: when the first McDonald’s opened in Moscow, the new employees were given extensive customer service training, to which one of the puzzled newcomers asked “Why do we have to be so nice to the customers? After all, we have the hamburgers and they don’t!”

78 This is not to say that you won’t experience genuine kindness and good service while in this region, but rather that you should be prepared—service in restaurants and shops may not be what you expect.

Danish Cuisine Twenty years ago one might’ve described Danish food as peasant cooking—hearty, stick-to- your-ribs Viking fare that would get you through a long day of farming, fishing, or raiding. Today, Denmark is the epicenter of the New Nordic cuisine, a movement begun by Danish chefs René Redzepi and Claus Meyer, who helmed Copenhagen’s Noma restaurant (considered the world’s best) and influenced chefs everywhere with their philosophy that celebrates sustainable, locavore, and seasonal ingredients—many of which are foraged and were previously forgotten. It has inspired many cooks to revisit and refine some of the classics of Danish cuisine, like these:

Perhaps the best-known Danish delights are smørrebrød—open-faced sandwiches built on a base of buttered rugbrød, a dense, dark rye bread. These are not random sandwiches, they are artfully composed, so the dish is colorful and the garnishes are complementary. Toppings might include syltede sild (pickled herring) with micro greens; shrimp and egg with dill; or roast beef with pickles, onions, and horseradish. A favorite is dyrlægens natmad, which translates as “veterinarian’s midnight snack” and includes corned beef, sky (Danish meat aspic), and leverpostej (liver pâté) topped with slivered red onions, sprouts, and parsley or dill.

The national dish is stegt flæsk, crispy pork belly chunks served with boiled potatoes and parsley sauce. So many Danes have a “burning love” for bacon, they named a dish after this affliction, brændende kærlighed, which is mashed potatoes topped with oven-roasted cubes of bacon, caramelized onions, and butter. Another pork favorite is brunkål, brown cabbage braised with sugar till it’s caramelized, then roasted with pork shanks, and served with pickled cucumber.

For a dish that looks as impressive as it tastes, there’s forloren hare, a Danish meatloaf made with ground pork, leeks, and egg. Bacon strips are woven around the loaf, which is then baked till it looks like an elegant brown basket. On the flip side there’s the humble røde pølser, which translates as “red sausage” and is a Danish hot dog. They are sold from pølsevogen (hot dog wagons) all over, and come with toppings like fried onions, pickles, and a variety of condiments.

Not all protein is pork. Try rødspættefilet, a filet of plaice (a mild white fish) that is breaded and fried. It can be eaten as an entrée, or as the stjerneskud (“shooting star”) of a smørrebrød topped with shrimp, lettuce and caviar from the Limfjord. Tarteletter are flaky pastry tartlets filled with chicken and asparagus in a creamy béchamel sauce. Roast duck or andesteg is a holiday favorite, stuffed with apples and prunes, then roasted until golden-brown and served with a sauce made with reserved duck fat, whiskey, and wine.

For something sweet to go with your coffee (bica), order a Danish but call it by its proper name, wienerbrød, which means “Vienna bread” and is a more accurate reflection of its provenance. Even though Danes did not invent them, they love these flaky, croissant-like glazed pastries filled with cream or fruit. They also love risalamande, a cold rice pudding topped with hot cherries, with an almond hidden in the custard. If you order frugtsalat, be your fruit salad may be turbo-charged with bits of chocolate and marzipan, and maybe topped with whipped cream.

79 Then there’s the cake that literally towers above them all, kransekake. It’s a cone of concentric almond cake rings bound together with a white icing glaze, and sometimes decorated with berries or nuts. They are served at festive occasions (especially New Year’s), and the center of the tower might hold candies, chocolates, and even champagne or wine bottles.

Polish Cuisine As with many European countries, Polish cuisine feels the influence of many cultures: Lithuanian, Ukrainian, Jewish, Hungarian, German, etc., as well as a pinch of Russian, Italian, and Turkish. The focus is on meat, especially chicken and pork, and winter vegetables (cabbage in the dish bigos), and spices, as well as different kinds of noodles – particularly the pierogi. Traditionally, Poles take their festive meals seriously, and feast days — like Christmas Eve or Easter Breakfast — can involve days of preparation.

Normally the main meal is eaten in mid-afternoon or later, and involves three courses, starting with a soup, such as bouillon or tomato or more festive barszcz (beet) followed sometimes by an appetizer. The main course is usually meaty — a roast or breaded pork cutlet. Vegetables, though now replaced by leaf salad, were traditionally served as ‘surówka’ - shredded root vegetables with lemon and sugar (carrot, celeriac, beetroot) or fermented cabbage. Popular side dishes are now boiled potatoes, and, less commonly the traditional kasha (cereals). Meals often conclude with a dessert such as makowiec, a poppy seed pastry, or drodówka, a type of yeast cake.

Baltic Cuisine The cuisines of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are all rooted in the region’s shared climate and coastal and agricultural resources—not to mention the influences of their common invaders. Baltic food is very hearty, but can also be very delicately seasoned. Meat figures prominently, as do potatoes, dark rye bread, and all manner of pickled vegetables. For the dishes below, while some ingredients may vary from country to country, often the difference is in name only.

Estonian Specialties Estonia capitalizes on its coastal bounty with kiluvõileib—a ubiquitous sandwich of smoked sprats, buttered dark rye bread, hard-boiled egg and topped with dill or scallions. It may not look appetizing, but it sure is tasty—as is the national dish, verivorst, a blood sausage accented with barley, onions, allspice, and marjoram. Mulgipuder is made from mashed potatoes and groats mixed with lots of butter and a bacon-based sauce. Estonians love aspics, which are jellied meat (or seafood) and vegetable loaves, sliced and served on dark bread. Rosolje is a delicious Estonian potato and beet salad with chopped onions, pickles, and a creamy mustard dressing.

For dessert, try vastlakukkel, a cream puff that was once reserved as a pre-Lenten delicacy, but is now happily indulged in year round. In a hurry? Grab a kohuke, a candy bar of sweet cheese curd covered with caramel or chocolate. By the way, Estonia is famous for chocolate, especially the Kalev brand, the oldest in the country. Need more sweets? Try Vana Tallinn, a rum-based liqueur served in coffee or over crushed ice or ice cream. For something less alcoholic, kvass tastes like a cross between beer and soda, and is made from fermented dark rye bread.

80 Latvian Specialties Latvia has a national specialty called piradziņi that looks like a plain yeast roll—until you bite into it and find that it is filled with onions, minced meat, bacon, cabbage, or creamy cheese. Leave room for karbonade, a breaded and fried pork schnitzel with a creamy mushroom sauce. You might also try rasol, a potato and beet salad with layers of meat or fish (typically herring), hard- boiled eggs, and other vegetables, bound with mayonnaise and sour cream.

End your meal with maizes zupa, a rye bread pudding made with apples, cinnamon, raisins, plums, cranberries, and whipped cream. With all that food you might need a digestif, so try Black Balsam, a vodka liqueur made with pepper, ginger, linden flower, raspberry, and bilberry.

Russian Cuisine Russian cuisine is an amalgam of peasant food and luxurious ingredients; native foodstuffs prepared according to techniques introduced by foreign chefs; and contributions made by minority groups such as Jews, Tatars, and Georgians. Much of this has to do with the dramatic socio-political changes that affected not just the availability of certain foods, but attitudes about it. So you have Old Russian cuisine, Moscow cuisine, Soviet cuisine, modern cuisine and more.

One of the best ways to get acquainted with a variety of Russian delicacies is zakuski, the lavish spread of appetizers meant to accompany icy fingers of Russian vodka. It arose as a way to welcome guests whose arrival times could not be predicted. While the main meal was prepared, zakuski would help to mitigate the effects of the strong alcohol.

Zakuski choices will usually include caviar; an array of charcuterie meats; and smoked salmon, sturgeon (balyk) or whitefish. Blini are the crepe-like buckwheat pancakes that you can wrap all your zakuski choices in. During the pre-Lenten festival called Maslenitsa, blini are the star attraction. Another staple is selyodka pod shuba, which literally means “herring under fur coat.” It’s a platter of herring smothered with onions, potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, shredded carrots, beets, and mayonnaise. Your table will also feature a huge array of pickled vegetables (from cucumbers to mushrooms to tomatoes and more); plus assorted cheeses and breads.

A zakuski favorite that has made its way around the world is Olivier salad, aka Russian salad. It was invented in the 1860s by a Belgian chef, Lucien Olivier, at The Hermitage, a popular Moscow restaurant. The original recipe included caviar, grouse, smoked duck, crawfish, veal tongue, and a secret sauce. Today’s version replaces the exotic fare with potatoes, carrots, eggs, peas, pickles, and chicken or beef in a mayonnaise sauce. It is a must on New Year’s Eve.

Russian pirozhki are pan-fried or oven-baked turnovers stuffed with just about anything: meat, fish, egg, potato, cabbage, cottage cheese, or jam. You might also find pelmeni, which are dumplings that can be filled with beef lamb, pork, or chicken. (A vegetarian version called vareniki can be filled with potatoes, mushrooms, cabbage, sweet cottage cheese or cherries.)

Russians love soup and there are dozens of delicious varieties. Try rassolnik, chicken soup with pickles; salanka meat soup with olives and sausages; or uha (fish soup.) The king of Russian soups is borscht, a red beet soup that may also include meat, potatoes, carrots, or tomatoes. It’s usually served with dill and sour cream, and can be enjoyed hot or cold.

81 As for main courses, one internationally loved Russian dish is Beef Stroganoff. Named after a 19th century count, it is made with beef, onions, and mushrooms, sautéed in white wine and sour cream. Another dish with a complicated provenance is Chicken Kiev. It is neither Kievan nor even Ukrainian, and was created by a French chef in St. Petersburg or Moscow. It was popular with sophisticated diners in postwar New York and Chicago, and soon the Soviets offered it in state- owned hotels and restaurants. Pedigree aside, the dish is a breaded chicken cutlet stuffed with a roll of seasoned butter and fried. If done correctly, the butter does not completely melt.

For dessert try medovik, a super sweet honey cake made with sour cream, custard and dried fruit, or buttercream and walnuts. Ptichye Moloko (“bird’s milk”) is a cake or candy made with marshmallow coated in chocolate. Another marshmallow treat is zefir, a puffy shell filled with puréed apples, berries or peaches.

Finnish Cuisine Finnish cuisine forgoes the fancy for simple, hearty, and comforting. The emphasis is on natural ingredients and fresh local produce, with fish and meat also playing a prominent role traditional Finnish dishes—including pork, beef, elk and reindeer. The country is also known for its fresh- picked mushrooms and berries, such as bilberries and lingonberries, used in cooking and baking. Here are some dishes to try:

• Ruisleopä: Part of the Finnish diet for thousands of years, ruisleipä is a dense and dark rye bread using sourdough and Finnish yeast that can be enjoyed at any time of day. Varieties of this healthy and hearty staple include reikäleipa, meaning “bread with a hole,” jälkiuunileipä, a harder bread baked at a low temperature, and several dry and flat versions (like the popular Finn Crisps).

• Karjalanpiirakka: Originally from the Karelia region of eastern Finland, this tasty pastry with a rye crust is traditionally filled with rice porridge and topped with egg butter. Karjalanpiirakka are favorites for breakfast or anytime as a snack.

• Kalakukko: This fish pie from the Finnish region of Savonia is traditionally prepared using rye flour and filled with a small herring-like fish combined with a little pork and bacon.

• Graavilohi: A true Finn favorite, graavilohi is a Nordic specialty made from raw salmon cured in salt, sugar, and dill. Thinly sliced, it’s often served as an appetizer with a dill sauce on bread or with boiled potatoes.

• Mustikkapiirakka: When you’re looking for something sweet and delicious in the summer months, go for the “blueberry pie”—although it’s actually made bilberries, the healthier Nordic cousin of blueberries.

• Salmiakki: You could also soothe your sweet tooth with some salmiakki, or salty licorice. This Finland favorite of black licorice with ammonium chloride added to give it a salty sourness, might be an acquired taste for some.

82 Swedish Cuisine Like other Scandinavian countries, cuisine in Sweden focuses on fresh ingredients and simple preparations—food without fuss. But that doesn’t mean it lacks personality as the spare approach lets the local fish and produce (like lingonberries) shine through. Some dishes to try are:

• Kanelbullar: Cinnamon buns with a sticky glaze. During holidays like Christmas, you may also see saffransbullar (saffron buns).

• Toast skagen: Shrimp, whitefish roe, Dijon mustard, mayo, and fresh dill on toasted bread served as an elegant appetizer or snack. Also popular as starter/snack is gubbroa, an open- faced egg salad sandwich with anchovies.

• Smorgasbord: Swedish buffet of meatballs, mini-sausages, salmon, pickled herring, and sides like knackebrod (crisp bread)

• Gul artsoppa: Yellow pea soup, a variant on split-pea soup

• Kottbullar: Swedish meatballs, cooked in a cream-based gravy

• Princess cake: If you watch Great British Bakeoff, you may remember the prinsesstarta challenge, where contestants had to bake this elaborate layer cake topped with a dome of whipped cream and a layer of green marzipan.

Copenhagen in Brief

City Layout and Details Old Copenhagen is defined as a rough square by Nørreport Station to the north, Rådhuspladsen (Town Hall Square) to the west, and Kongens Nytorv to the east.

Strøget is Europe’s the longest continuous pedestrians-only route. It runs east from Town Hall Square to Kongens Nytorv, and is composed of five interconnected streets: Frederiksberggade, Nygade, Vimmelskaftet, Amagertorv, and Østergade and roughly bisects Old Copenhagen. Strøget is a stoller’s and shopper’s heaven: lined with shops, bars, restaurants, and, in season, with sidewalk cafes it a favorite of visitors and locals alike. On the Eastern end, Pistolstræde is a maze of galleries, restaurants, and boutiques, housed in restored 18th-century buildings.

Fiolstræde (Violet St.), closer to the western end of Stroget, offers antiques shops and bookshops and cuts through the university (Latin Quarter). At the end of Fiolstræde you can turn onto Rosengaarden where you’ll find Kultorvet (Coal Square). Here you’ll find join the third main pedestrian street, Købmagergade (Butcher St.) which runs gently south until it meets up with Strøget at the Amagertorv section.

At the eastern end of Strøget you approach Kongens Nytorv (King’s Square), where you’ll find the Royal Theater and Magasin, the largest department store in Copenhagen. Across the square you come to the beginning of Nyhavn, the former seamen’s quarter that now features upscale restaurants, apartments, cafes, and boutiques.

83 Denmark’s government is centered on the small island of Slotsholmen, which is connected to the center by eight different bridges. The island also features several museums, most notably Christiansborg Castle.

Entertainment Free time? Try strolling the Strøget, a three quarter mile stretch of shops between Rådhuspladsen and Kongens Nytorv . If you get peckish or thirsty midway, you can hop over a street to the Vestergade, lined with historic buildings, restaurants, stores and bars for a little more variety. Nynhavn (New Harbor) is the place to be on a good day – outdoor cafes abound, and classic buildings overlook the classic ships that line the harbor front.

In summer, a visit to Tivoli Gardens is a must. Tivoli’s twenty-one acres encompasses impressive structures (the Chinese Tower, the Glass Hall Theater, and the Pantomime Theater among them), flower beds, fountains and lovely landscaping. The park features 5 roller coasters, including one of the world’s oldest wooden coasters, as well as other rides. Locals and visitors alike find the ambience and experience a repeatable pleasure. If you’re not interested in the rides or the performances you can simply stroll, take in the view and people watch. (There is an entrance fee, but many of the events inside are included).

You’ll find the nightlife in several neighborhoods, including Strøget and nearby areas; in Vesterbro, with its main street on Vesterbrogade just across from Tivioli Gardens; and on Istegade — home to some of the today’s trendier bars and cafés. The area just off Kongens Nytorv on Gothersgade is another busy nightlife spot.

The famed jazz venues of Copenhagen are largely closed. Nightspots now cater to a wider range of music — from ballroom music to house, rap, and techno. Restaurants, cafés, bars, and clubs stay open after midnight, a few until 5 am.

Local Transportation Copenhagen is sufficiently compact and inviting that most of your travel in the city should be as a result of a leisurely stroll. Many of the major sightseeing attractions are close to one another.

By Bus: Copenhagen’s buses are an inexpensive way to get around a little further out, if necessary. Most buses leave from Rådhuspladsen. A basic ticket buys an hour of travel and unlimited transfers within the zone where you started your trip. For information, call tel. 36-13-14-15.

Metro: Copenhagen’s Metro is almost 20 years old, and it connects the east to west of the city with the center. It operates 24 hours a day, and Metro fares are integrated into Copenhagen’s zonal system. A joint zone fare system works with Copenhagen Transport buses, State Railway, and the Metro. You have the option to purchase a grundbillet (base ticket), 10 tickets, or a 24-hour bus and train ticket which allows you to travel through nearly half of Zealand.

Discount Passes: The Copenhagen Card entitles you to free and unlimited travel by bus and rail throughout the metropolitan area (including North Zealand) and free admission to many sights and museums. The card is available for one day or three days.

84 Taxis: Watch for the FRI (free) sign or a green light when hailing a taxi. Be sure the taxis are metered. Tips are included in the meter price and many drivers speak English.

Bicycle: In good weather cycling around the city is a great option. Getting through central Copenhagen can take around 30 minutes on a bike—and may be faster than the metro – and bikes are popular with the residents. Cycle paths are plentiful and quite safe.

Riga in Brief

City Layout and Details Riga is the capital of Latvia and the largest of all the Baltic cities. It is divided into six administrative districts and its notable historical center has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Throughout this part of the city you can expect to see beautiful wooden architecture dating back to the 19th century. Riga is located on the Gulf of Riga with its main river being the Daugava, connecting it to the Baltic Sea.

Most visitors will want to focus on the historical city center, or “Old Town”. Compact, easy to walk, and charming, Old Town was the heart of the city during the Middle Ages, and as such boasts top attractions like the Dome Cathedral, St. Peter’s Church, and the Riga Castle. To the northeast of Old Town is the Esplanade area, with its manicured parks and well-tended stately homes. This area is also a cultural hub that hosts the National Art Museum and the National Opera. Further north of Old Town (and slightly west of Esplanade) is the Art Nouveau district. Beautiful examples of this sinuous and decorative style can be found on Strelnieku, Alberta, and Elizabetes streets.

Local Transportation In Riga, you can expect easy access to plenty of trams, trolleys and buses. The capital stays well-connected to the rest of Latvia by way of an impressive network of trains, and even offers international trains to Russia as well.

Public Transit: The city-wide transit system, which is run by the Rigas Satiksme, includes trams, buses, and trolleys. The entire system uses the reloadable e-talon card, which can be purchased in advance from a ticket office, automated vending machine, or at a newsstand. The best deal for a visitor is probably the 24-hour or 3-day card, which allows for unlimited rides and free transfers during the card’s validity. The cards are activated by using the yellow machine onboard the tram/ bus/trolley; you have to activate your card each time you board.

Bike: There are several self-service bike rental stalls throughout the city. (Look for the bike racks marked “SIXT Latvia”.) You must have a cell phone to register, but once registered, the fees are very reasonable; usually less than 10 euros a day.

Riga Card: Like in many other cities, Riga has a tourist card that you can buy that combines some free sightseeing, discounts in shops and restaurants, and use of the public transit system. It is called the Riga Card, and can be bought online at http://rigacard.lv/en or in person at the Tourist Information Center in Town Hall Square.

85 Tallinn in Brief

City Layout and Details Tallinn’s historic Old Town consists of the hill called Toompea and the larger Lower Town to its east. In medieval times, Toompea was the headquarters of the Estonian government, while the Lower Town was distinct from it as a center for Hanseatic traders. A stone wall still separates the two, and another city wall encircles much of the Lower Town. Two streets connect the upper and lower parts of town: the Luhike Jalg (short leg), a steep, cobblestone lane leading through a gate in the wall, and the Pikk Jalg (long leg).

Old Town Square (Raekoja Plats) in the Lower Town is a central point from which to explore the city, and is the location of the English-speaking Tourism Office. Here you can purchase a Tallinn Card, which covers public transportation and admission to many sites, for a single day or for longer periods. The entire Old Town is fairly compact and lends itself to exploration on foot.

Local Transportation The Old Town of Tallinn is best explored on foot (trams, buses, and trolleybuses circumvent it, and cars need a permit to enter it). To explore other sections of the city, there is an easy-to-use tram system whose hub is located in front of the Viru Shopping Center just east of the Old Town. Single-ride tickets can be purchased onboard, and multi-day passes are sold near tram stops at kiosks that are labeled sõidutalongid. If you wish to take a taxi, fares are relatively inexpensive in Tallinn.

St. Petersburg in Brief

City Layout and Details St. Petersburg is Russia’s largest seaport and second largest city, with a population of around five million. It lies on the same latitude as southern points of Alaska and Greenland, and yet its climate—which to a large extent depends on the proximity to the sea and the many waterways that crisscross the city—is frequently described as fairly mild.

The city straddles more than 40 islands at the mouth of the great Neva River, which sweeps majestically through its center. The Neva River flows southwest from Lake Ladoga to the Baltic Sea. The Neva branches into three arms and separates the Petrograd side and Vasilievsky Island from the mainland. Today, granite embankments (built in the time of Catherine the Great) contain the 65 rivers, canals, channels, and streams that separate the islands, but flooding still occurs when gales drive in from the Baltic. These waterways, Lake Ladoga, and the sea freeze over in winter, but icebreakers keep the port open all year. There are 365 bridges joining the islands.

From the Admiralty on the south embankment, the main streets radiate like spokes of a wheel; the canals and other streets cross these spokes running parallel to the main channel of the Neva. On Vasilievsky Island the streets are divided up into numbered Liniya (lines). In the months after the renaming of Leningrad to St. Petersburg, streets began to revert to their original,

86 pre-Revolutionary names, a process which continues and can cause confusion. Fortunately, many of the most interesting sites, especially those on the left bank of the Neva, along and around the embankments, are located in a relatively compact area, which can be easily explored on foot.

Dining Dining in St. Petersburg is generally inexpensive and there are many different types of cuisine available to sample, including traditional Russian food, European, and Asian cuisines. Dishes are generally quite generous in size, and there are numerous places in the city center to dine out, including cafes and bistros where you can enjoy a simple, but tasty snack.

Local Transportation Included in your St. Petersburg stay are sightseeing tours. If you wish to do some additional exploring on your own, you may find the following information useful.

Buses, trams, and trolleybuses: These run from 6 am to 1 am. Stops marked by an “A” sign serve buses, while stops marked “T” serve trolley buses. The latter are less crowded than buses during rush hour. Tram signs hang from wires above the middle of the road.

Taxis: St. Petersburg taxis are different colors with a “T” sign or checkerboard. If you hire a taxi, negotiate the price FIRST. A tip to a driver is at your discretion; locals generally do not tip taxi drivers.

The Metro: Like St. Petersburg’s buses and trams, the Metro runs from 6 am to 1 am, and like the Moscow Metro, it is famous for its architecture and murals. This is the fastest way to get around St. Petersburg, and it is well worth the effort to learn its routes and destination signs.

Helsinki in Brief

City Layout and Details Established 450 years ago on the order of the Swedish King Vasa, Helsinki is a youngster of a city by European standards, and it’s still the smallest in the world to host the Olympic Games. But its ideal location on lovely peninsulas that jut into the Baltic Sea, its compact size and efficient design, and its stunning architectural variety combine to make a city that is easy to explore on leisurely walks and that holds wonders around every corner.

The bustling Market Square, located on South Harbor, is the charming site of wooden stands and colorful awnings that springs to life every morning. Only a few blocks away is the Helsinki Cathedral, a distinctive landmark with its tall, green dome surrounded by four smaller domes, done in the neoclassical style. It was designed by Carl Ludvig Engel as the climax of his Senate Square layout, and is surrounded by other buildings designed by him.

Another reason for Helsinki’s distinctive small-town ambience is the absence of high-rise buildings. No structure here stands more than 12 stories. Nestled near the harbor is the Esplanade, a broad expanse of trees and gardens in the middle of a boulevard that runs from Market Square west to the Swedish Theater. This is the beginning of Mannerheimintie, the city’s

87 main thoroughfare. With small shops, large department stores, churches, and outdoor cafes, Mannerheimintie is a visitor’s delight. Alive with motion and color from the start of day, Helsinki is no less invigorating at night. The Esplanade was the 1999 winner of the Edison Award for excellence in lighting design, offering a stunning combination of architecture and illumination.

Equally vivid is the work of the internationally honored Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, whose genius sprouts in structures all over Helsinki, from the winged, white marble facade of Finlandia Hall to the cooper-clad curtains of the Academic Bookshop.

Local Transportation You can purchase a one-day “Transportation Card,” providing free travel on the city’s buses, trams, metro, and local trains. You will receive further information on specific routes and times of operation during your trip. You may want to take a ride on the tram, which passes some of the principal sights of the city. If you want to hire a taxi, you can signal one from the street. Taxis have an illuminated yellow sign taksi/taxi. When the sign is lit, the taxi is vacant.

Stockholm in Brief

City Layout and Details Stockholm is built on 14 islands in Lake Malaren, which marks the beginning of an archipelago of 24,000 islands, skerries, and islets stretching all the way to the Baltic Sea. Stockholm’s major streets—Kungsgatan (the main shopping street), Birger Jarlsgatan, and Strandvagen (which leads to Djurgarden)—are on Norrmalm (north of the Old Town). Stureplan, which lies at the junction of the major avenues Kungsgatan and Birger Jarlsgatan, is the commercial hub of the city.

East of Stureplan rises Hotorget City, a landmark of modern urban planning, which includes five 18-story skyscrapers. Its main, traffic-free artery is Drottninggatan, a three-block shopper’s promenade that eventually leads to Sergels Torg, with a modern sculpture in its center.

South of Sergels Torg, at Gustav Adolfs Torg, sits the Royal Opera House. A block east of the flaming torches of the opera house is the verdant north-to-south stretch of Kungstradgarden— part avenue, part public park—which serves as a popular gathering place for students and a resting stop for shoppers. From here it is a short walk to the Royal Dramatic Theater and the Royal Opera House, as well as two other city landmarks: the Grand Hotel and the National Museum.

Kungsholmen (King’s Island) lies across a narrow canal from the rest of the city, and is the site of the elegant Stadshuset (City Hall). South of Gamla Stan (Old Town), and separated from it by a narrow but much-navigated stretch of water, is Sodermalm, the southern district of Stockholm. Quieter than its northern counterpart, it’s an important residential area with a distinctive flavor of its own. To the east of Gamla Stan, on a large and forested island completely surrounded by the complicated waterways of Stockholm, is Djurgarden, part of Sweden’s first city national park. This summer pleasure ground of Stockholm is also the site of many of its most popular attractions, including the Vasa Ship museum.

88 Dining, Evening Entertainment The city’s favorite spot for both indoor and outdoor evening events is Djurgården. Don’t miss the nightclubs and jazz venues, some of which stay open until 3 or 4 in the morning, and which keep the city hopping.

All the major opera, theater, and concert seasons begin in the fall, except for special summer festival performances. Most of the major opera and theatrical performances are funded by the state, so ticket prices are reasonable.

Stockholm’s restaurant scene began revitalizing some 15 years ago and continues to innovate. What was once a dour landscape of overpriced, uninspiring eateries is now a hotbed of culinary creativity: Stockholm’s best chefs have stayed way ahead of the game. Increasingly, their talents are rubbing off on mid-price restaurants – and many of those mid-range restaurants now represent the best dining value in town. Recent trends have seen some of the city’s better restaurants pick up on this and offer more set-priced tasting menus and increasing numbers of wine by the glass—making otherwise expensive restaurants relatively affordable. In terms of food, New Swedish is still tops, and chefs look to fine, seasonal, traditional ingredients, prepared with a modern twist. Many less-expensive restaurants offer traditional Swedish cooking. Among Swedish dishes, the best bets are wild game and fish, particularly salmon, and the smorgasbord buffet, which usually offers a good variety at a decent price. Reservations are generally necessary.

Local Transportation All tunnelbana (T or T-bana), metro, and local trains, and buses in the city are run by Storstockholms Lokaltrafik (SL; www.sl.se). A Stockholm Card (available for varied time periods) covers travel on all SL trains and buses. SL Tourist Cards are primarily for transport, but also give free entry to some attractions. Or, purchase individual coupons: the minimum fare is two coupons, and each additional zone costs another coupon (up to five coupons for four or five zones).

Tunnelbanna (T-Bana) Metro: The tunnelbana is the most efficient way around Stockholm. Lines converge on T-Centralen, and are connected by an underground walkway to Centralstationen. There are three main lines, numerous branches and more than 100 stations, making the major sites easy to get to. The blue line features a collection of modern art decorating the underground stations. Stations at other lines are also decorated.

Bus: The bus system contains a number of lines that make stops throughout the city, often servicing areas like the Djurgården neighborhood, which is out of the T-bana’s reach. Some night buses run from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. and are a good alternative to taxis. Bus timetables and route maps are complicated but the system offers useful connections to suburban attractions.

Taxi: Readily available, but very expensive (rides from the airport usually start at around $45; in town a 15-20 minute ride will be about $25-$30). Drivers are required to publish prices, and prices are not regulated. Make sure you know the fare before you get into the taxi.

89 Bicycle: In good weather cycling around the city is a great option. Getting through central Stockholm’ can take around 30 minutes on a bike—and may be faster than the metro. Cycle paths are plentiful and quite safe.

Shopping: What to Buy, Customs, Shipping & More There may be scheduled visits to local shops during your adventure. There is no requirement to make a purchase during these stops, and any purchase made is a direct transaction with the shop in question, subject to the vendor’s terms of purchase. O.A.T. is not responsible for purchases you make on your trip or for the shipment of your purchases.

Returns If you discover an issue with an item, you should contact the vendor directly and expect that any resolution will take longer than it would in the U.S. We recommend that you keep a copy of all your receipts, invoices, or contracts, along with the shop’s contact information. Keep in mind, local practice may vary from U.S. standards, so don’t assume that you have a certain number of days after the purchase to speak up or that you are guaranteed a refund.

Crafts & Souvenirs

Denmark A showcase for world-famous Danish design and craftsmanship, Copenhagen seems to have been designed with shoppers in mind. The best buys are such luxury items as crystal, porcelain, silver, and furs. Look for offers and sales (tilbud or udsalg in Danish) and check antiques and secondhand shops for classics at cut-rate prices.

VAT: Although prices are inflated by a hefty 25% Value-Added Tax (Danes call it MOMS), non-European Union citizens can receive about an 18% refund. For more details and a list of all tax-free shops, ask at the tourist office for a copy of the Tax-Free Shopping Guide.

Poland Polish folk objects make good mementos and are an excellent value. Some interesting possibilities include embroidery, lace, dolls in folk costumes, prints and engravings, amber, pottery, and woodcarvings. The wide range of chain stores specializing in different local wares makes shopping in Poland relatively easy. Desa stores carry tapestries, painting, sculptures, and porcelain.

The Baltics Specialties of the Baltics include amber, CDs of traditional music, ceramics, knit goods, lace, leather-bound books, linen, local liquors such as Vana Tallinn and Black Balzam, silverware, and woodcarvings. You can also pick up candies, vodka, glass and woodwork, artwork, vintage items, and USSR-era knickknacks throughout the region in shops and at flea markets.

90 Russia Among the best buys in Russia are black caviar (sold in small sealed jars), the traditional Russian wooden nest of dolls (matryoshkas), hand-embroidered shirts and blouses, balalaikas, samovars, watches (Raketa brand and military watches), chess sets, pure wool scarves, lacquer boxes, hats, vodka, amber, malachite jewelry, porcelain and books. You’ll also find a variety of small Christmas and Easter gifts made by Russian craftsmen for sale throughout the year that make great unique presents for friends.

To bring back a little of Russia with you, you have some traditional items to choose from. The blue and white Russian porcelain Gzhel is used for vases, table settings, some delicate toys, and figurines. Nesting dolls are also widely available in St Petersburg, as well as Russian and Ukrainian style shirts with intricate embroidery. Palekh boxes (brightly colored and lacquered with native artwork) are on sale in better souvenir shops. Kiosks offer amber and silver jewelry, and some churches allow you to purchase Russian Orthodox religious items.

Finland Handicrafts, jewelry, hand-woven ryijy rugs, furniture, glassware, ceramics, furs, and textiles are some of the world-renowned specialties.

Sweden Swedish artisans create wonderful handmade glass and crystal (including Orrefors), which will make collectors proud. Swedish designer jewelry is also popular. Other traditional arts and crafts of the region include hand painted wooden Dalecarlian (Dala) horses, Viking and troll figures. If you have a sweet tooth, try Marabou chocolate, or try Glogg – an alcoholic drink served hot.

U.S. Customs Regulations & Shipping Charges For all things related to U.S. Customs, the ultimate authority is the U.S. Bureau of Customs & Border Protection. Their website, www.cbp.gov has the answers to the most frequently asked questions. Or you can call them at 1-877-227-5511.

The top three points to know are:

• At time of writing, your personal duty-free allowance is $800 for items brought with you. Items totaling more than $800 are subject to duty fees.

• Items shipped home are always subject to duty when received in the U.S. Even when the shop has offered to include shipping and duties in the price, this typically means shipping to the nearest customs facility and payment of the export duties—not door-to-door shipping or payment of the import duties. All additional duties or shipping charges would be your responsibility. Unless an item is small enough to send by parcel service (like FedEx), chances are you will need to arrange shipping or pick-up once the item is in the U.S. and will need to pay customs duties.

91 • It is illegal to import products made from endangered animal species. U.S. Customs & Border Protection will seize these items, as well as most furs, coral, tortoise shell, reptile skins, feathers, plants, and items made from animal skins.

92 DEMOGRAPHICS & HISTORY

Denmark

Facts, Figures & National Holidays • Area: 16,640 square miles

• Capital: Copenhagen

• Government: Constitutional monarchy

• Geography: Denmark is the smallest of the Scandinavian countries (it’s about half the size of Maine). The country occupies the Jutland peninsula, a lowland area, where the highest elevation is only 565 feet above sea level. But that doesn’t mean that the country is entirely flat. Most of its terrain consists of folds, undulations, small, often steep hills, and long, low rises. There are also forests, rivers, lakes, and beaches, many of which are excellent for swimming, though the water may be too cold for some people.

• Languages: Danish, Faeroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), and a small German- speaking minority

• Location: Denmark consists of the peninsula of Jutland and a group of islands at the entrance to the Baltic Sea, between Sweden and Germany. The two largest islands are Sjaelland, site of Copenhagen, and Fyn. Denmark also has two self-governing dependencies—Greenland and the Faeroe Islands.

• Population: 5,605,948 (estimate)

• Religion: Evangelical Lutheran 76%, Muslim 4%, other 16%

• Time zone: Denmark is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, six hours ahead of Eastern Time. Daylight Saving Time is in effect in Denmark from the end of March until the end of September.

93 National Holidays: Denmark

In addition to the holidays listed below, 05/01 May Day/Labor Day Denmark celebrates a number of national 05/05 Liberation Day holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such as Easter and Ascension Day. To find out if you 06/05 Constitution Day will be traveling during these holidays, please visit www.timeanddate.com/holidays. 12/25 Christmas Day

01/01 New Year’s Day 12/26 2nd Christmas Day

Denmark: A Brief History About 10,000 years ago, the glacial ice sheets that covered northern Europe began to retreat, attracting huge herds of reindeer. These in turn attracted hunter-gatherers who arrived from southern and eastern Europe. As the climate further warmed, the reindeer migrated north, but the early Danes remained in this fertile land, establishing farming communities by 3000 BC.

By 1800 BC, these proto-Danes were trading weapons, jewelry, amber and furs with people as far away as Rome. They buried their dead in peat bogs and many of those bodies have been remarkably preserved. The first people identified as Danes came from Sweden around 500 AD. They had a written system of communication based on runes. (The symbol we now use for bluetooth devices is based on the runic signature of Harald Bluetooth, or Harald I, the Danish Viking who became king around 900 AD.)

The Viking Age began in 793 AD with the raid on Lindisfarne, an English island monastery. Sporadic raids had likely occurred before this, by Vikings from Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. They were not unified and the Danish Vikings primarily raided northeastern England, which at the time was a collection of warring Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Danish Vikings had established a large settlement in Kent by 850 AD, and as more Danish colonists arrived, all of northeastern England fell under their control. The exception was Wessex, which reached an agreement with the Danes granting Wessex sovereignty, while the rest of the region was ruled as the Danelaw.

The Danish King Harald Bluetooth converted to Christianity in 965 AD, possibly to appease the Franks at Denmark’s door. Harald forcibly established the new religion, and elevated the status of the Christian clergy. But Christianity did not bring peace. The Danes continued to fight to maintain and expand their territory, conquering parts of Germany and Estonia. After the Viking Age ended in 1066, Denmark’s power declined. In 1397, the Union of Kalmar united Denmark, Sweden, and Norway under a single monarch, with Denmark as the dominant power.

Beginning in the 16th century, Denmark and Sweden began a lengthy rivalry. In 1658, Sweden took the Danish regions of Skåne, Halland and Blekinge, which are still Sweden’s southernmost provinces. In the ensuing century, Denmark suffered more defeats: in 1814, it had to cede Norway to Sweden. But there were important domestic gains. . . . As 19th-century Europe was swept by nationalist fervor and revolution, Denmark had already abolished serfdom and established universal public education. By the 1830s, social and agricultural reforms had boosted the economy; there was a peasant landowner class; and a free press. In 1849, a new constitution created a legislative democracy, ending the monarchy’s previous absolute power.

94 Denmark remained neutral during World War I, and tried to do the same during World War II. It signed a non-aggression pact with the Third Reich. But Germany invaded in 1940, threatening to bomb Copenhagen. With only a small military, the Danish government yielded. The Nazis at first allowed the Danes some autonomy. But when it began pressuring officials to comply with anti- Semitic policies, the Danish government resigned in protest. The Nazis took over in earnest, and the resistance movement grew. Tipped off by a Nazi diplomat that Germany was about to deport Denmark’s Jews to concentration camps, the Resistance and many citizens managed to evacuate 7,220 of Denmark’s 7,800 Jews to safety in Sweden.

After Germany’s defeat, Denmark joined the United Nations in 1945, and became a founding member of NATO in 1949. The latter half of the 20th century saw Denmark’s emergence as a prosperous, stable social democracy with one of the world’s highest standards of living. In 2000, Denmark voted by referendum not to adopt the euro. It is one of only 5 countries in the world that meets the UN goal for wealthy nations to provide 0.7% of its gross national income for international development assistance. In addition, Denmark has established Danida, Danish Development Assistance, to fight poverty and improve education in developing countries. The current Prime Minister, Mette Fredericksen, is the second woman and youngest person (at 44) to hold that office. She is the leader of the center-left Socialist Democratic Party.

Poland

Facts, Figures & National Holidays • Area: 120,728 square miles

• Capital: Warsaw

• Government: Republic

• Language: Polish is the official language. It is a Slavonic language. Unlike Russian, it uses the familiar Roman alphabet, but with many additional accents. German, Russian, English, and French are spoken by most members of the travel industry and in hotels.

• Location: Situated in the heart of Europe, Poland’s low-lying plains extend from the Baltic shore in the north to the Tatra Mountains on its southern border with the Czech Republic and Slovakia. To the east of the Polish border are Lithuania, Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine; to the west is Germany.

• Population: 38,562,189 (estimate)

• Religion: Catholic 87.2%, Eastern Orthodox 1.3%, Protestant 0.4%, other 0.4%, and unspecified 10.8%

• Time zone: The time in Poland is six hours ahead of Eastern Time in North America: when it is 12 noon in New York, it is 6 pm in Warsaw and Krakow.

95 National Holidays: Poland

In addition to the holidays listed below, 05/01 Labor Day/May Day Poland celebrates a number of national 05/03 Constitution Day holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such as Easter. To find out if you will be traveling 08/15 Assumption of Mary during these holidays, please visit www. timeanddate.com/holidays. 11/01 All Saints’ Day

01/01 New Year’s Day 11/11 Independence Day

01/06 Epiphany 12/25 Christmas Day

Poland: A Brief History Poland’s sovereignty has never been easy or taken for granted. From its earliest incarnation as an independent state in 966, Poland has been occupied by foreign powers, sandwiched between hostile neighbors and even wiped off the world map for 123 years. But through it all, there have been remarkable leaders and a commitment to cultural preservation that continues to inspire.

The first nation builders were the Slavs. Their most prominent clan, the Polanie (“people of the open country”) gave the nation its name, and the Piast dynasty. The most important Piast ruler was Duke Mieszko. In 966, he consolidated power by being baptized a Catholic and marrying Doubravka, a Bohemian princess. Mieszko’s son Boleslaw expanded his dominion to an area roughly equivalent to Poland’s current borders. He became Poland’s first legitimate king in 1025.

Kazimierz III the Great presided over a period of prosperity and expansion from 1333–70. He was a visionary who promoted legal, educational, and civil reforms. Among them was a law providing privileges for Jews, which set the stage for Poland as a haven for a group that made significant cultural contributions for 600 years. He built universities and founded so many new towns it gave rise to a saying that Kazimierz “found Poland built of wood, but left it in stone.”

When Kazimierz died without heir, the Polish Princess Jadwiga married the Grand Duke of Lithuania, Jogaila. Their two states became the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1569. It had a central parliament and local assemblies, and an elected king. But a fatal loophole was that in the absence of a serious Polish contender, nobles could elect a foreigner. This opened the door for rampant bribery and a series of kings whose allegiances were not with Poland.

By the beginning of the 17th century, foreign invaders carved up the kingdom. Most devastating was the Swedish invasion of 1655–70, called “The Deluge.” Next came the Ottomans, but Poland had a bright moment when King Jan III Sobieski defeated the Turks at the Battle of Vienna in 1683, preventing their further spread into Europe. He was unable to prevent Poland’s collapse: In 1772, the Commonwealth was partitioned by Prussia, Austria, and Russia. It was divided two more times, despite a revolt led by Tadeusz Kosciuszko, hero of the American Revolution.

In 1795, Poland ceased to exist as a nation, its borders erased for 123 years. But its spirit was kept alive by nationalist societies, and by romantic artists like the composer Frederic Chopin. It wasn’t until after World War in 1918 that an independent Polish state came back into existence. The

96 Second Republic only lasted 20 years before the Nazi occupation of World War II. The Germans first targeted Gdansk, then Warsaw, and met fierce resistance. But the Poles were outnumbered and underarmed. The Nazis intended to make Poland their living room by evicting its inhabitants. A million Poles were murdered in camps; nearly all of the nation’s three million Jews were exterminated; and when the Soviets came in 1944, they continued the genocide. By the end of the war, 20% of the Polish population had died, and Poland became a Soviet satellite.

The postwar years saw various protests, but it wasn’t until the Gdansk shipyard strikes of 1980 that change happened. The workers’ main issue was the right to unionize, but in their “21 Demands” they sought far-reaching changes in areas from food supplies to free speech to maternity leave and more. The Solidarity Strike was joined by workers in mines, factories, and more. Through the leadership of Lech Walesa, the protests remained non-violent, but the struggle lasted till the end of the decade. When the Iron Curtain fell, Walesa was elected President, and Third Polish Republic was born. Poland joined NATO in 1999, and the EU in 2004.

Estonia

Facts, Figures & National Holidays • Area: 17,462 square miles

• Capital: Tallinn

• Language: Estonian is the official language, with some Russian, Ukrainian, and Finnish also spoken.

• Location: Estonia is bordered on the east by Russia and on the west by the Baltic Sea. To the south is Latvia and to the north is the Gulf of Finland. Estonia has numerous lakes and forests and many rivers, most of which drain northward into the Gulf of Finland or eastward into Lake Peipus.

• Population: 1,265,420 (estimate)

• Religions: Lutheran 9.9%, Orthodox 16.2%, other Christian (including Methodis, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal) 2.2%, other 0.9%, none 54.1%, unspecified 16.7%

• Time zone: Estonia is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, 7 hours ahead of Eastern Time. The country observes daylight savings time from late March until late September.

97 National Holidays: Estonia

In addition to the holidays listed below, 05/01 Labor Day Estonia celebrates a number of national 06/23 Victory Day holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such as Easter. To find out if you will be traveling 06/24 Midsummer Day during these holidays, please visit www. timeanddate.com/holidays. 08/20 Independence Restoration Day

01/01 New Year’s Day 12/24 Christmas Eve

02/24 Independence Day 12/25 Christmas Day

12/26 Boxing Day

Estonia: A Brief History Life in Estonia must’ve been pretty good for the Finno-Ugric people who’d arrived there during the third millennium BC. They were nomadic hunters with a nature-centered religion, but they gave up their roaming to mingle with the resident Neolithic people, trading along the Amber Route. They never gave up their pagan religion, though others tried to pry it from them. That happened in 1193, when Celestine III called a crusade. Teutonic knights raided Estonia, aided by Danish troops, but the Estonians resisted for 30 years. By the mid-1200s Estonia was ruled by Danes in the north and Teutons in the south, including land-owning bishops who still tried to convert the pagans. Though some Estonians professed Christianity, they secretly practiced paganism—and occasionally laid siege to monasteries and bishops’’castles.

The Baltic Germans remained and built thriving cities. Tallinn, Tartu, Viljandi, and Pärnu all became members of the Hanseatic League. In the mid-1500s, Ivan the Terrible came crashing down with his Tatar cavalry. To stop him, Poland, Denmark, and Sweden sent troops to fight in The Livonian War. Half the rural population perished. In the end, Sweden retained power in Estonia, and governed through the 17th century. But by 1700, Denmark, Poland, and Russia rose to reclaim lands lost in the Livonian War. This time Russia won Estonia, and held it for 200 years.

By the late 19th century Estonia was swept up in the romantic nationalism movement. The first Estonian language newspaper was published, native folklore was celebrated, and in 1869 the first Estonian song festival was held. But it wasn’t until after the Russian Revolution of 1917 that Estonia felt confident enough to declare independence. The Soviet Socialist Republic sent their military to overrun Estonia, but ceded their claim with the 1920 Tartu Treaty. Estonia was free.

By 1939, Germany and Russia had signed a secret non–aggression pact (the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact) that carved up most of Europe. Estonia went to Russia, and tens of thousands of Estonians were forced into the army or sent to labor camps. When the Germans marched in in 1941, the Estonians initially welcomed them—until the Nazis began executing communist collaborators and forcibly conscripting citizens. Many Estonians fled to Finland and joined the Finnish Army. In 1941 there were about 2,000 Jews in Estonia. Almost all were killed by the Nazis, who murdered 10,000 more (from elsewhere in Europe) in Estonian camps.

98 With the end of the war the Soviets returned. Executions began, and 2.5% of the population was deported to Siberia. A program of Russification was set in motion, bringing in thousands of Russian immigrants and attempting to systematically dismantle Estonian culture.

In the 1980s, the era of glasnost rekindled Estonian hopes for freedom. One of Estonia’s most powerful acts of resistance was a song festival held in protest 1988, which drew international attention. On the 50th anniversary of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, a human protest chain stretched across the Baltics to Tallinn. Finally in 1991, Estonia gained independence. In 2004, Estonia joined NATO and the European Union. Its expansive economic growth was halted by the 2008 economic downturn, but it rebounded, largely on the strength of its dynamic tech sector.

Today, Estonia is a tech leader. Taxes are done online in under 5 minutes; all public services are available on the web; and voting is done online. In 2007, several Estonian institutions were hit by Russian cyberattacks. The government reported that Russia had instigated a disinformation campaign to split Estonia’s many Russian speakers. With Estonia leading the charge, NATO established the Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence (CCDCOE) in Tallinn in 2008.

Latvia

Facts, Figures & National Holidays • Area: 24,938 square miles

• Capital: Riga

• Languages: Latvian is the official language; Russian and Lithuanian are also spoken.

• Ethnicities: Latvian 56.3%, Russian 33.8%, Belarusian 3.5%, Ukrainian 2.3%, Polish 2.2%, Lithuanian 1.3%, other 3.4%

• Location: Latvia is bordered by Estonia, Lithuania, Russia, Belarus, and the Baltic Sea.

• Geography: Riga, the Latvian capital, is often described as a cultural capital for the entire Baltic region and is home to some of the most elegant and continental architecture in the Baltics. Most of Latvia is rich flat plain, but due to the high water table, only about 28% is arable. Perhaps this explains why nearly 2/3 of the Latvian population is urban.

• Population: 2,165, 165

• Religions: Lutheran 19.6%, Orthodox 15.3%, other Christian 1%, other 0.4%, unspecified 63.7%

• Time Zone: Latvia is seven hours ahead of U.S. EST. When it is 6am in Washington D.C., it is 1pm in Riga.

99 National Holidays: Latvia

In addition to the holidays listed below, Latvia 06/23 Midsummer Eve celebrates a number of national holidays that 06/24 Midsummer Day follow a lunar calendar, such as Easter. To find out if you will be traveling during these 11/18 Republic of Latvia Proclamation Day holidays, please visit www.timeanddate.com/ holidays. 12/24 Christmas Eve

01/01 New Year’s Day 12/25 Christmas Day

05/01 Labor Day 12/26 Second Day of Christmas

05/04 Independence Restoration Day 12/31 New Year’s Eve

Latvia: A Brief History Modern Latvians descend from the Balts, who arrived around 2000 BC from Belarus, and traded along the Amber Route. By 1000 AD, the Balts had diverged into four tribes, the largest of which, the Latgals, ruled most of Latvia. The Balts were pagans and in 1193, Pope Celestine III asked the Teutonic knights to launch a northern crusade. The knights established a base in Riga, and had some success in converting the Latgals (though many pagan ways continued in secret).

Soon, German settlers arrived and began developing trade. In 1282, Riga joined the Hanseatic League. With its connections to Germany and proximity to Russia, Riga prospered for 300 years. But most of the wealth went to the German overlords, as the Latvians were little more than serfs. From the mid-16th to the early 18th century, Latvia was partitioned between Poland and Sweden, but by 1721 Russia had annexed the whole of Latvia, and held it for the next 200 years.

Forced integration into the Russian empire caused many locals to identify as Latvians for the first time. The move towards a national identity was lead by the so-called “Young Latvians” from the 1850s through the 1880s. Also in the late 19th century, the Latvian Jewish community made significant contributions to industry and trade, operating woodworking factories, timber and grain mills, export companies and distilleries. Following the 1917 Russian Revolution, Latvia declared independence. The new nation was recognized by the Soviet Union in 1920.

In 1939 Russia and Germany secretly agreed to a non-aggression pact that carved Europe up between them. Latvia fell into the Russian sphere, and in 1939 the Red Army arrived. During the first year of Soviet occupation, 35,000 Latvians, especially the intelligentsia, were deported to Russia. The terror continued with the Nazi occupation in 1941. Both powers used forced conscriptions, deportations, and executions against the local population. Latvia’s Jews fared worst of all. Prior to the war there were 94,000 of them; in 1944, only a few hundred remained.

Near the end of the war, the Russians returned and annexed Latvia. On top of the devastation of World War II, there were mass deportations that sent 120,000 Latvians to Siberia. At this same time, the Soviets began a process of Russification, resettling thousands of ethnic Russians in Latvia, imposing the Russian language, and instituting a Russian curriculum in schools. By 1989, native Latvians comprised only 52% of the population, as opposed 77% before the war.

100 The reform of the communist regime under Mikhail Gorbachev inspired Latvia’s independence movement. On August 23, 1989, Latvia joined Estonia and Lithuania in forming a 420-mile, human chain of two million protestors. It was the anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact that had carved the Baltics up between Germany and Russia. The movement gained traction as the Baltics launched the so-called “Singing Revolution,” in which millions of people publicly gathered to sing folk songs that became protest anthems. The crumbling Soviet Union was too weak to stop it. Two years later, Latvia declared independence.

Latvia quickly reached major milestones such as joining the European Union and NATO. Many Latvians credit the leadership of Vaira Vike-Friberga, the Baltic’s first female head of state, who was president from 1999 to 2007. While the EU brought tangible benefits, the global economic crisis of 2008 hit Latvia hard. Many young people left to find opportunities elsewhere. Recently, the economy has begun to rebound. In 2015, Raimonds Vejonis of the Green Party became president, campaigning for the environment and national security. While many people are optimistic, given the Russian incursions into Ukraine in 2014, it is a cautious optimism.

Russia

Facts, Figures & National Holidays • Area: 6,601,670 square miles, the largest country on Earth

• Capital: Moscow

• Language: Russian.

• Location: Russia spans two continents, with the part west of the Urals considered to be in Europe while the rest of the country is in Asia. On its west, Russia is bordered by Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Belarus, Ukraine, and the Black Sea. On the south, the Russian border touches Georgia, Azerbaijan, the Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and China. The North Pacific Ocean defines Russia’s eastern edge, and the Arctic Ocean lies to Russia’s north.

• Population: 142,423,773 (estimate)

• Religion: Russian Orthodox 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%, other Christian 2%

• Time zone: From April through most of September, Moscow and St. Petersburg are 8 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Daylight Time, 11 hours ahead of U.S. Pacific Daylight Time.

101 National Holidays: Russia

In addition to the holidays listed below, 03/08 International Women’s Day Russia celebrates a number of national April or May Orthodox Easter (moves holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such each year) as New Year Holiday Week. To find out if you will be traveling during these holidays, please 05/01 Labor Day visit www.timeanddate.com/holidays. 05/09 Victory Day 01/01 New Year’s Day 06/12 Russia Day 01/07 Orthodox Christmas Day 11/04 Unity Day (observed on Monday when 02/23 Defender of the Fatherland Day falls on a weekend)

Russia: A Brief History With a history as sprawling as its physical borders, the arc of Russia is nothing short of epic. No summary can do justice to the historical currents that still pulse through modern Russian consciousness. But a good starting point is 862 AD, the birth of Rus, the first Russian state established by the Varangians (Vikings), who ruled the resident Slavs and Finno-Ugric people. It began in Novgorod, and gradually absorbed the region around Kiev to form Kievan Rus.

Kievan Rus was derailed for 300 years after the Mongol invasion in 1223. A hero of this age was Alexander Nevsky, who managed to preserve the Russian state and Russian Orthodoxy. The most transformative of all rulers was Peter the Great (1689-1725), who dragged Russia into the modern age, “kicking and screaming.” A giant in stature as well as impact (Peter was 6’8”), he defeated Sweden in the Great Northern War; founded a dazzling new capital, St. Petersburg; and made Russia a world power. Forty years later, his spirit lived on in Catherine the Great, a fan of Enlightenment thinking but also expansionism: She annexed the Crimea, Poland, and beyond.

Serfdom was abolished in 1861, but the misery of the peasants continued. Revolutionaries mobilized the industrial working class just as the nation had suffered disastrous wars, economic crises, and a tone-deaf monarchy. It led to widespread rioting and the murder of the last Romanovs. The 1917 Russian Revolution burned on as Marxist Bolsheviks seized power under Vladimir Lenin. A civil war ensued, the Communists won, and the Soviet Union was born in 1922.

After Lenin’s death in 1924, Josef Stalin became the dictator. Trotsky and other “Old Bolsheviks” were killed or exiled. As the 1930s began, Stalin launched the Great Purges, when millions were executed or exiled to Siberia. The USSR became an industrial power, but there was widespread misery. Soon there was a distraction: World War II, called the Great Patriotic War in Russia.

At first, Russia struck a secret deal with Germany: The 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, a non- aggression treaty that carved Europe into German and Soviet spheres. In 1940 the USSR annexed Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. But soon Germany marched into the new Soviet territories and right up to Moscow. The Red Army stopped the Nazis at Stalingrad in 1943 and drove them back,

102 capturing Berlin before Germany surrendered in 1945. During the war the Soviet Union lost more than 27 million citizens (including 18 million civilians), the highest recorded losses for any military conflict the world has ever known.

The Red Army continued to occupy Eastern Europe after the war, installing satellite states as the US helped Western Europe stabilize. Both powers sought dominance over the Third World during the Cold War. Stalin died in 1953 and Nikita Khrushchev took over. He instituted reforms, presided over the space race, and faced less stellar events like the Cuban Missile Crisis and an escalating arms race. Things changed in the ‘80s with Mikhail Gorbachev and his policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring). However, an unsuccessful military coup that tried to remove him instead led to the collapse of the Soviet Union. Boris Yeltsin came to power, the USSR splintered into 15 republics, and was officially dissolved in December, 1991.

Vladimir Putin was elected in 2000. Though Putin is still the most popular Russian politician, controversies include increased state control of the media, government influence on elections (in Russia and abroad), the murder of dissidents, and ongoing Ukrainian interference. At the same time, high oil prices boosted Russia’s economy and standard of living. In 2018 Putin won his fourth term, which will last until 2024—barring any further constitutional manipulation.

Finland

Facts, Figures & National Holidays • Area: 130,558 square miles

• Capital: Helsinki

• Geography: Finland is heavily forested and contains thousands of lakes, numerous rivers, and extensive areas of marshland. Except for a small highland region in the extreme northwest, the country is a lowland less than 600 feet above sea level.

• Languages: Finnish, Swedish

• Location: Finland is bordered to the north and west by Norway and Sweden, and to the east by Russia.

• Population: 5,518,371 (estimate)

• Religion: Lutheran 72%, Orthodox 1.1%, other 1.6%, unspecified 25.3%

• Time zones: Finland is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, seven hours ahead of EST.

103 National Holidays: Finland

In addition to the holidays listed below, 01/06 Epiphany Finland celebrates a number of national 05/01 May Day holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such as Easter and Midsummer. To find out if you 12/06 Independence Day will be traveling during these holidays, please visit www.timeanddate.com/holidays. 12/25 Christmas Day

01/01 New Year’s Day 12/26 St. Stephen’s Day

Finland: A Brief History While sharing many cultural traits with its Scandinavian neighbors, Finland’s linguistic and historic roots differ than those of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway—which share a common root language and Viking heritage. Finland’s early history began with settlements of nomadic Sami people, Tavastians, and others during the first millennium B.C. With Vikings choosing not to establish settlements here, Finland developed into an important center of trade during the Viking Age. But Finland’s powerful neighbors, Sweden and Russia, would battle for centuries over regional dominance. While Finland was able to preserve its language, culture, and traditions, Sweden would end up ruling it from the twelfth to the nineteenth centuries. And after that, Russia ruled Finland from 1809 to 1917.

After the 1917 Russian Revolution, Finland declared its independence. But the new state was immediately drawn into a civil war between the social classes—with Bolshevik-leaning “Reds” (factory and farm workers) supported by the new Soviet Union on one side, and the “Whites” (property owners), supported by Imperial Germany, on the other. The Whites emerged victorious and installed a puppet king. After the defeat of Germany in World War I, Germany’s influence disappeared and Finland became a republic, electing its first president in 1919. Relations remained tense between Finland and Soviet Union.

Finland’s role during World War II made perfect sense to the Finns, but it can make everyone else’s head spin. At the war’s outbreak, the Soviet Union attacked Finland, expecting a quick victory. Instead, the Finns fought way above their weight while holding the Soviet army back and humiliating Stalin. The Finns were eventually worn down and ended up ceding some border lands to Stalin, but they preserved their independence and gained the admiration of the world, who viewed it as a tiny democratic nation almost defeating an aggressive bully nation. Known as the “Winter War” of 1939/40, the Finns would then find themselves the “Continuation War,” which began when Germany invaded the USSR in June 1941. Looking at it more as choosing between the lesser of two evils, the Finns allied themselves with Germany—primarily to gain back the territory they had just lost. But the Red Army was much stronger now, and after Germany’s surrender at Stalingrad, Finland entered secret negotiations with Moscow to leave the war. A treaty between Finland and the Soviet Union in 1944 left Finland independent but included a demand that they immediately expel the 200,000 German troops in Finnish Lapland—which led to the “Lapland War,” Finland’s third stage of the war.

104 While Finland did ally with Hitler, they weren’t looked on as collaborators and refused demands to turn over Finnish Jews. Some say that Finland may have lost World War II, but they won the peace. Other countries bordering the Soviet Union weren’t so lucky, but Finland managed to maintain its autonomy, a democratic government, and market economy. It continued to walk a fine line between the two camps of the Cold War—refusing an American offer to participate in the Marshall plan, developing a trade relationship with the Soviet Union, yet all the while working toward becoming a member of the European Union.

As its war-ravaged agrarian economy transformed into technologically advanced market economy, Finland grew increasingly prosperous and stable. Membership in the EU became a reality in 1995. While the political systems in the Scandinavian neighbors of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden are constitutional monarchies, Finland is a republic with a president and parliament system—and on international surveys about nations with the lowest level of political corruption, Finland is often right at the top.

Sweden

Facts, Figures & National Holidays • Area: 173,860 square miles

• Capital: Stockholm.

• Government: Constitutional monarchy

• Geography: The countryside of Sweden slopes eastward and southward from the Kjolen Mountains along the Norwegian border, where the peak elevation is Kebnekaise at 6,965 feet in Lapland. In the north are mountains and many lakes. To the south and east are central lowlands and south of them are fertile areas of forest, valley, and plain. Along Sweden’s rocky coast, chopped up by bays and inlets, are many islands, the largest of which are Gotland and Oland.

• Languages: Swedish

• Location: Sweden is situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula, between Norway and Finland. The north of Sweden falls within the Arctic Circle.

• Population: 9,960,487 (estimate)

• Religion: Lutheran 63%, other (includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, and none) 17%

• Time zones: Sweden is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, six hours ahead of Eastern Time.

105 National Holidays: Sweden

In addition to the holidays listed below, 01/06 Epiphany Sweden celebrates a number of national 05/01 May Day holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such as Easter and Ascension Day. To find out if you 06/06 National Day will be traveling during these holidays, please visit www.timeanddate.com/holidays. 12/24 Christmas Eve

01/01 New Year’s Day 12/25 Christmas Day

12/26 Boxing Day

Sweden: A Brief History Sweden’s history began at the end of the last Ice Age, when tribes from central Europe began settling in Sweden’s southern regions and the ancestors of the Sami people coming from Siberia, settled in the north. By the 7th century AD, the Svea people would gain supremacy in the region and their kingdom gave the country its name of Sweden. Like in Norway and Denmark, Sweden flourished and expanded through trade and colonization during the 300 years of the Viking Age, ending by the middle of the 11th century, a period that also saw Sweden converting to Christianity.

In the 13th century, the Swedes conquered Finland, but Russia would continue battle Sweden for control of Finland. By 1323 Finland was firmly in Swedish hands and would remain a province of Sweden until 1809. In 1397, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway were united under a single monarch by the Union of Kalmar. But with Denmark emerging as the dominant power, there was constant infighting between Sweden and Denmark, which came to a head in 1520 when Denmark invaded Sweden. Sweden would then leave union that brought the three nations together resulting in the beginning of the Vasa Dynasty and the creation of the first true Swedish nation-state.

Remaining neutral during both World War I and II, Sweden would not have to rebuild from the ground up as many other European nations did. The ruling Social Democrats began implementing welfare protection measures, the economy grew steadily, and Swedes achieved a high standard of living. In the 1970s, Sweden’s economy went into a decline, however, and wouldn’t stabilize again until the late 1990s. Sweden joined the EU in 1995 and has seen steady improvements to its economy in recent years.

106 RESOURCES

Suggested Reading

Denmark We, the Drowned by Carsten Jensen (2011, Fiction) An epic seafaring adventure that follows the inhabitants of the Danish town of Marstal from 1848 to World War II, when the men sail the world and the women who are left behind form a community. The book is long (600 plus pages) and deals frankly with war, violence, and cruelty. But it was a runaway international bestseller and lauded for its use of fantastical elements.

Iceland’s Bell by Halldor Laxness (2003, Fiction) Nobel Laureate Halldor Laxness reinvents the traditional Icelandic saga and injects it with a modern sensibility and a satirical undercurrent that speaks to our age. The plot pits an impoverished Danish colony – Iceland in the 17th century – against the grand historical workings of Danish and Icelandic history. Three interconnected stories reveal the political and personal conflicts of the day in historical context.

On Tycho’s Island: Tycho Brahe and his Assistants, 1570-1601 by John Robert Christianson (1999, Biography/History) Chiefly famed as an astronomer, this book offers a fuller vision of Tycho Brahe as Renaissance man and scientist. From his private island in Denmark, Brahe assembled and manipulated the artists, nobility and the intelligentsia of the age to create breakthroughs in astronomy, science and research.

Winter’s Tales and Seven Gothic Tales by Isak Dinesen (1934, Stories) Best known for Out Of Africa, her memoir of 20 years running and living on a coffee plantation in Africa, Karen Blixen (pen name, Isak Dinesen) also wrote short tales based in her homeland, Denmark. Winter’s Tales and Seven Gothic Tales are generally considered the high water marks of her shorter works.

The Complete Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen (Folklore) There are several different anthologies of these fairy tales, written by Denmark’s famous poet, novelist, and writer of short stories. Considered a genius for his inventiveness and imagination, his works continue to captivate both children and adults.

Poland God’s Playground: A History of Poland by Norman Davies (2005, History) Critics regard this work as the best and most exciting history of Poland, covering 1,000 years in two volumes. The author also offers a condensed version—Heart of Europe: A Short History of Poland.

Gimpel the Fool and Other Stories by Isaac Bashevis Singer (1957, Fiction) From the master of Yiddish literature (and Nobel Laureate), this collection vividly depicts Jewish life in a rural shtetl, while mixing magic and reality.

107 Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly (2016, Historical fiction) Loosely based on the true story of an American who campaigned for a group of concentration camp survivors known as “the Rabbits”, this novel follows the intersecting lives of three very different women—a New York socialite, a Polish teenager, and a German doctor.

The Baltics The Baltic: A History of the Region and Its People by Alan Palmer (2006, History) The author includes all nine nations who share a common shore, showing how their histories, cultures, commerce and beliefs have evolved over the centuries.

The Czar’s Madman by Jaan Kross (1978, Historical Fiction) In 1818, a nobleman of Livonia (between modern Latvia and Estonia) is imprisoned for having written a critical letter to the czar. Upon his release, spies in his household must decide if his radical ideas are treasonous or simply insane.

Autumn Ball by Mati Unt (1979, Fiction) This darkly comic novel peers into the lives of six disparate and desperate characters who all reside in a Soviet-era, pre-fab housing block on the edge of Tallinn.

Purge by Sofi Oksanen (2008, Fiction) The author weaves together the lives of two women in 1990s Estonia who are brought together by tragic—and sometimes shocking—circumstances. A bestseller in Europe, the novel has been translated into at least 32 languages.

Vilnius Poker by Ricardas Gavelis (1989, Fiction) A love story told from four different points of view explores larger themes of life under an absurdist Soviet regime in 1970s and 1980s Vilnius.

Tula by Jurgis Kuncinas (1993, Fiction) Considered a classic of Lithuanian literature, this quirky love story is set in the late-Soviet era in the so-called “independent republic of Uzupis,” a bohemian quarter in Vilnius.

We Are Here: Memories of the Lithuanian Holocaust by Ellen Cassedy (2012, Memoir) A heartfelt and personal investigation into the Lithuanian Holocaust by an American journalist who uses her own family history to illustrate this dark era.

The Book of Riga edited by Becca Parkinson and Eva Eglaja-Kristsone (2018, Fiction) This short story collection showcases some of the best Baltic writers across all genres to tell the story of Riga—a city over 800 years old.

The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell (1992, Mystery) Fans of the BBC series Wallander will love this book, in which the adroit Swedish detective travels to Riga to solve the mystery of two bodies that have washed up ashore. He becomes immersed in a web of bureaucracy, corruption, and secrecy as he navigates his way around post-independence Latvia.

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys ( 2012, Fiction) This highly acclaimed novel tells the story of Lina, a Lithuanian teenager who is forcibly deported to a Siberian work camp in 1941. A talented artist, she uses her drawings as a way to maintain her dignity and identity—and perhaps

108 reach her father, who is being held in a different camp. Although fiction, the story is based on accounts from survivors and historical research, and therefore provides a good sense of the Soviet suppression in the Baltics.

Set Sail for Murder by Carolyn Hart (2008, Mystery) Sailing to Copenhagen, Tallinn, and St. Petersburg with Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Lennox is his old friend, retired investigative reporter Henrietta O’ Dwyer Collins. But can she find out who is trying to kill Jimmy’s dashing wife before disaster strikes?

Russia Peter the Great, His Life, and World (1980); The Romanovs, The Final Chapter (1995); and Nicholas and Alexandra (1967) by Robert Massie (Biography/History) Three definitive works by the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian. Massie portrays a giant of history in Peter the Great; unfolds the mystery of what might be the remains of the Romanovs in The Final Chapter; and dazzles with the fairytale romance of the last emperor and his bride in Nicholas and Alexandra.

Russia, A Concise History by Ronald Hingley (1991, History) A readable, condensed history of Russia’s multiple transformations by a well-known Russian scholar.

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (2014, Fiction) In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is sentenced to lifelong house arrest in Moscow’s Metropol Hotel. Though physically constrained, his life becomes more emotionally expansive as he contends with the events of 30 years of Russian history.

The Night Witches by Russ Braun and Garth Ennis (2019, Graphic Novel/Historical Fiction) During World War II, a new breed of fighter pilot emerges to defend the Soviet Motherland—the all-female Night Witches. Piloting obsolete biplanes, these heroines patrol the lethal skies above the Eastern Front, but as the young Lieutenant Anna Kharkova discovers, the Nazi foe has a homegrown counterpart in Stalin’s secret police.

Putin Country: A Journey into the Real Russia by Anne Garrels (2017, Nonfiction) A longtime NPR foreign correspondent looks beyond the capitals of Moscow and St. Petersburg to better understand life for the ordinary Russians who comprise Vladimir Putin’s political base.

Secondhand Time by Svetlana Alexievich (2013, Memoir) The author won the Nobel Prize for inventing a “new kind of literary genre” that gathers a chorus of voices to describe a specific historical moment. Here, her interviewees chronicle the demise of Soviet communism over thirty years, with stunning emotional resonance and clarity.

Russian Stories edited by Christoph Keller (2019, Fiction) If you don’t have time to read the heavyweights, this anthology brings together classic tales from the likes of Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and Chekhov along with their most acclaimed contemporary heirs.

Finland Seven Brothers by Aleksis Kivi (1870, Historical Fiction). A Finnish classic, Seven Brothers follows the lives of seven brothers in rural Finland during the nineteenth century.

109 The Unknown Soldier by Vaino Linna (1954, Fiction). A war novel narrating Finnish soldiers during the Continuation War of 1941-1944 between Finland and the Soviet Union, a war fought over nationalism and territory lost to the USSR in the Winter War the previous year.

The Year of the Hare by Arto Paasilinna (1975, Fiction). The adventures of journalist Kaarlo Vatanen only started when he nearly runs over a hare. After nursing the injured hare back to health, Vatanen decides to leave his old life, job and wife, behind for the open road and wacky hijinks.

Kalevala by Elias Lonnrot (1835, Folklore). Kalevala is a collection of 19th century epic poetry of Karelian and Finnish mythology, written down from its traditional oral stories. A national epic of Finland, the Kalevala tells the story of the Creation of the Earth, all the way to the integration of Christianity.

Finland’s War of Choice: The Troubled German-Finnish Coalition in World War II by Henrik Olai Lunde (2011, History). Following the bloody Winter War against Soviet Russia, where thousands died and Finland was forced to cede multiple territories to USSR rule, Finland teamed up with Nazi Germany in the Continuation War, from 1941 to 1944, in hopes of winning back their lost land.

Sweden A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (2014, Fiction). Funny and poignant, this first-time novel by Stockholm native Fredrik Backman about an old curmudgeon who regains a will to live when a young family moves in next door made best seller lists around the world.

The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson (2012, Fiction). A publishing sensation from another first time Swedish author, this one is the riotous exploits of a centenarian with a backstory better than Forrest Gump’s who is desperate to avoid his 100th birthday party. And a sequel was just released: The Accidental Further Adventures of the 100-Year-Old Man.

A Year in Lapland: Guest of the Reindeer Herders by Hugh Beach (2001, Culture) An American anthropologist’s account of a year spent living with the Sami (Lapps) and learning in depth about their way of life. Though set among the Tuorpon Saami in the Jokkmokk District of northern Sweden, this detailed picture of Sami culture says much about the ways of these people across all their homeland in northern Norway, Sweden, and Finland.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl who Played with Fire, and The Girl who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson (Mystery) A huge hit when The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was first released in the U.S. in 2008, this series of mysteries set in Sweden became a worldwide phenomenon. Dark and gritty, they are reminiscent of old-time noir films. Sadly, Larsson died in 2004 shortly after delivering the manuscripts of all three books.

110 Suggested Film & Video

Denmark The Danish Girl (2015, Drama) The Danish artist Einar Wegener (later known as Lili Elbe) was one of the first people to undergo sex reassignment surgery. This biopic depicts Elbe’s early career and marriage to artist Gerda Gottlieb, and the Bohemian worlds of Copenhagen and Paris in the 20s and early 30s.

A Royal Affair (2012, Historical Drama) The mentally ill King Christian VII comes to rely on his friend and physician, Johann Struensee (Mads Mikkelsen), a radical Enlightenment thinker from Germany. So, too, does the lonely Queen Caroline (Alicia Vikander), who begins a passionate affair with the doctor. The king learns of their liaison, but protects them, and makes Struensee a Royal Advisor who essentially rules in the king’s name. But his reforms are cut short when plotting aristocrats use the affair and Struensee’s foreign status to bring a tragic end to this true story.

Pele the Conqueror (1988, Drama) Directed by Billie August, this Danish-Swedish production won the 1989 Oscar for Best Foreign Film, and star Max von Sydow was nominated for Best Actor. It follows the early 19th-century widower Lasse, who emigrates with his 12-year old son Pelle to the Danish island of Bornholm in search of a better life. That is not what they find.

Babette’s Feast (1988, Comedy) Set on the rugged coast of 19th century Denmark, this film is from a short story by Isak Dinesen. Two beautiful daughters grow up with a clergyman father, who preaches self-denial. After his death, the sisters uphold his inflexible practices until the arrival of a French refugee, Babette. She cooks and for them, and introduces them to the deep pleasure of a gourmet French meal. Winner of the 1987 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

The Danish Solution (2003, Documentary) Filmmakers Karen Cantor and Camilla Kjaerulff , with Garrison Keillor narrating, reveal how the citizens of Denmark protected their Jewish population against Hitler’s attempt to impose export his final solution into Denmark.

Poland The Pianist (2002, Drama) Three Oscar wins for this unforgettable, harrowing and true story of Wadyslaw Szpillman, an up and coming classical pianist who hid and survived for five years in the ruins of the Warsaw Ghetto after his entire family was deported to Treblinka.

Man of Iron (1981, Drama) A dissolute journalist is sent to report on the Solidarity movement in the Gdansk shipyards, knowing that his information is being funneled to state police. But as he becomes involved in the lives of shipyard workers, activists, and their leader Lech Walesa, things change. From one of Poland’s premier auteurs, Andrzej Wadja.

111 The Baltics The Other Dream Team (2012, Documentary) The 1988 Soviet Olympic basketball team included four Lithuanian starters who never got credit for their contribution. Fast forward to 1992, after Lithuania’s independence. The struggling nation could not afford to send their basketball team to the Barcelona Olympics, until some unlikely champions stepped in: the American rock band, the Grateful Dead. A must for sports fans and anyone who loves a feel-good story.

The Chronicles of Melanie (2016, Drama) In 1941, the Soviets rounded up 40,000 Latvians, Lithuanians, and Estonians, and executed or deported them to Siberian gulags. This is the true story of Melanija Vanaga, who was separated from her husband and sent east with her eight year-old son. To endure her brutal existence, for 16 years she writes love letters to her husband that can never be sent.

The Singing Revolution (2006, Documentary) Can music change the world? Between 1987 and 1991, hundreds of thousands of Estonians gathered publicly to sing forbidden patriotic songs and share protest speeches. Their revolution succeeded without a single loss of life. This film reveals how it happened.

Loss (2008, Drama) This taut thriller concerns a Lithuanian priest who resettles in Ireland. But when another Lithuanian émigré, Valda, arrives, a secret from his past comes along with her, and disrupts the lives of six different people. This film was the first from Lithuania to be submitted for an Academy Award.

Baltic Storm (2003, Drama) This thriller focuses on the 1994 sinking of the ferry MS Estonia, in which 852 lives were lost. Based on the reporting of German journalist Jutta Rabe, it suggests that the sinking (and subsequent cover up) was connected to a Swedish military operation in which Russian defense technology was being smuggled to the west. Starring Greta Scacchi, Jürgen Prochnow, and Donald Sutherland.

The Invisible Front (2014, Documentary) A documentary about the Lithuanian resistance told through the experience of one of its leaders, Juozas Luksa, and his fellow “Forest Brothers.”

Russia The Dawns Here are Quiet (1972, Drama) An Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Film. Heroism knows no gender in this heartbreaking World War II story about female Russian soldiers sent to fight Germans in the Karelian forest (near Finland). Their male sergeant (who has asked for troops who don’t drink or chase after women) is shocked when he sees that his new anti- aircraft gunners are young women, but a mutual respect gradually evolves. The WWII scenes are shot in black and white and the backstories of the women are in color.

The Death of Stalin (2017, Satire) As the dictator is dying of a cerebral hemorrhage, his Council of Ministers scrambles to grab power for themselves. Scheming, treachery, horror and plenty of black comedy ensue, courtesy of a brilliant cast that includes Steve Buscemi as Nikita Kruschev and Jeffrey Tambor as Malenkov, Michael Palin as Molotov, and the brilliant Simon Russell Beale as the depraved head of the secret police, Beria. From one of the creators of Veep.

112 Russia: Land of the Tsars (2003, Documentary) Filmed on location in Russia by the A&E crew, this documentary captures the imperial history of the Tsars. Look for the special edition set that includes bonus episodes from the TV show A&E Biography on Peter the Great, Ivan the Terrible, and Rasputin.

Russian Ark (2002, Historical Fantasy) Three centuries of Russian history unfold in this breathtaking film, which consists of one entirely unbroken shot as the camera (and an unseen narrator) glides through the Winter Palace of the Hermitage. We meet famous characters overhear whispered conversations, spy on state meetings, and also glimpse the Hermitage’s fabled artwork.

Catherine the Great (2019, Historical Miniseries) Helen Mirren plays the aging empress, who, along with her lover and advisor Grigory Potemkim, expanded the borders of Russia and launched its rise as a major European power. Awash in sumptuous period details, the series reveals an amazing woman who outsmarted a succession of ruthless, petty, and grasping men. Confident in her power and free in her sexuality, Catherine was unfairly maligned by those same men. Mirren redeems her.

Finland The Winter War (1989, Drama) An excellent Finnish war film (original title Talvisota) that tells the story of the resistance of a platoon of Osttrobottnian Finns, when Russia attacked Finland in November of ‘39. The Finns fought hard against overwhelming odds, with meager supplies, and the movie faithfully presents their action in the forbidding snowy landscape.

The Unknown Soldier (1955, Drama) An adaptation of Väinö Linna’s novel this is a story about the Continuation War between Finland and the Soviet Union, told from the view of ordinary Finnish soldiers. Gritty and realistic, the film remains the most successful film ever made in Finland, and more than half of Finland’s population viewed it in theaters.

Steam of Life (2010, Documentary) An acclaimed Finnish documentary travels around the country finding men in different saunas willing to share their stories about love, death, birth, and friendship—about life. The steam reveals the men’s souls in an intimate and poetic journey to the film’s emotional end.

The Man Without a Past (2002, Comedy) The second part of Aki Kaurismäki’s “Finland” trilogy, the film follows a man who awakens after a brutal mugging with no memory. A poor family nurses him to health and a Salvation Army worker gets him a job. He builds a new self, despite a society that is unable to deal with his lack of established identity and history. The film quietly evolves into funny portrait of the possibilities of life.

Elina: As If I Wasn’t There (2002, Drama) In rural Sweden of the early 1950s, Elina returns to school again after an illness. From a Finnish-speaking minority, Elina has conflicts with her biased teacher, and finds consolation wandering on the dangerous marshlands while speaking with her dead father.

113 Pelikaanimies (2004, Fantasy) A pelican becomes a gawky young man who learns to speak, thanks to his talent for imitation. He befriends two children who—unlike adults—see that their new neighbor ‘Mr Berd’ is not a man but a bird in a suit. The Pelican Man lands a job at the opera and falls in love. When adults discover the truth, trouble starts in this unusual and charming film.

Mother of Mine (2005, War/Drama) Amidst the conflict of World War II, Eero, a Finnish boy, is sent to live with a Swedish foster family by his mother. Eero feels abandoned by his Swedish mother, but unwelcomed by his new foster mother. When Eero returns to Finland following the war, his feelings of abandonment and confusion intensify.

Sweden My Life as a Dog (1985, Drama) The story of Ingemar, a 12-year-old Swedish boy sent to live with his childless aunt and uncle in a country village when his mother falls ill, resulting in a Swedish look at the adult world through a child’s eyes. A lovely, sometimes intense coming of age story with rural Sweden as backdrop.

Smiles of a Summer Night (1955, Comedy) Ingmar Bergman’s idea of a bedroom farce brought him international stardom. A melancholy comedy the film depicts the romantic entanglements of three 19th-century couples during a weekend at a country estate. It’s also pure Bergman: sharp, serious, thoughtful, and sobering, though there’s an undercurrent of humor that the venerable director of such serious film classics like The Seventh Seal is not particularly known for.

114 VACCINATIONS NOW REQUIRED FOR ALL TRAVELERS, SHIP CREW, TRIP EXPERIENCE LEADERS, AND COACH DRIVERS Plus, updated Health & Safety Protocols for our Small Group Adventures by Land & Small Ship

The health and safety of our travelers is always our #1 priority, and we understand travelers are concerned about exploring the world in light of the unprecedented crisis we are currently facing. To ensure your safety and give you peace of mind, we have worked with our regional team and listened to government guidance and feedback from our travelers to create these health and safety protocols for our trips. As we continue to make changes, we will keep our website updated with the latest information.

VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS • All travelers, ship crew, and Trip Experience AND UPDATED HEALTH & SAFETY Leaders will have their temperature checked PROTOCOLS FOR SMALL SHIP every time they return to the ship using a ADVENTURES non-contact infrared temperature scanner. • All travelers must be fully • All meals are served by the dining staff— vaccinated against COVID-19 at least 14 buffets are no longer available. days prior to departure and provide proof of VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS vaccination upon boarding the ship. AND UPDATED HEALTH & SAFETY To meet this requirement, please bring your PROTOCOLS FOR SMALL GROUP original COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card ADVENTURES ON LAND with you on your trip. The white card must • All travelers must be fully display your name, type of vaccine, and the vaccinated against COVID-19 at least 14 days date(s) the vaccine was administered. We also prior to departure. suggest taking a picture of this card to keep for your records as a backup. To meet this requirement, please bring your original COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card All local Trip Experience Leaders, • with you on your trip. The white card must ship staff, and crew will be fully display your name, type of vaccine, and the vaccinated against COVID-19. date(s) the vaccine was administered. We also • All coach drivers will be fully suggest taking a picture of this card to keep vaccinated against COVID-19. for your records as a backup. • All public areas will be sanitized nightly and • All local Trip Experience Leaders will all ships are equipped with High Efficiency be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Particulate Air (HEPA) filters. • All coach drivers will be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

We will do all we can to ensure our travelers’ safety and health while on our adventures, but we need your help. We expect travelers to follow best health and hygiene practices to prevent the spread of illness as well—from washing your hands regularly, to covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing. By working together, we can create a safer travel experience for everyone.

Learn more at www.oattravel.com/covid-update

115 Notes

116 Notes

117 Notes

118 1429 nm (2647 km)

RUSSIA

St. Petersburg Arrival/ Distance Departure Motor Route Cruise Route Total Cruising Total Optional Extension

Tallinn

Riga

ESTONIA

LATVIA

FINLAND

Helsinki

LITHUANIA

a

e

S

c

i

Visby t l

sk

ń a

POLAND B

Gda

Stockholm

Rønne

(Also Trip Extension) (Also Trip

SWEDEN

Copenhagen GERMANY

NORWAY

(Also Trip Extension) (Also Trip

DENMARK

119 YOUR TRIP EXPERIENCE LEADER

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For your Grand Baltic Sea Voyage adventure, your Trip Experience Leaders have earned an overall “Excellence” rating of 96% in post-trip surveys completed by our travelers.

The Leader in Personalized Small Group Adventures on the Road Less Traveled

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